The election day in Hungary has registered a historic turnout, with a 54.14% of voters at 1:00 PM, a significant increase of 14.1 points compared to the 40% registered in the 2022 elections. This increase in voter turnout underlines the great importance that Hungarian citizens attach to this decisive electoral event for the country's political future.
From the first hours of the day, turnout showed an increase, with a 37.98% turnout at 11:00 hours, exceeding the 2022 figure by more than 12 points, which reflects the dynamism of the day. At 9:00, a 16.89% turnout had already been registered, a figure that exceeded by more than six points that recorded in the previous legislative elections.
Magyar supports the change and launches a challenge to Orbán
Péter Magyar, leader of the conservative Tisza party, was one of the first to vote this morning. At 08:25 he went to the polling station in his Budapest neighborhood, surrounded by a large number of journalists. After casting his vote, Magyar appeared optimistic and convinced of a system change in Hungary, stating: "No one should be afraid, today there will be a system change in Hungary. Millions of Hungarians will make history. There is no one to be afraid of." Furthermore, he did not hesitate to challenge Viktor Orbán, asserting that "the mafia state no longer has power over any Hungarian citizen", a clear criticism of the policies of the current prime minister, who has governed Hungary since 2010.
A crucial mandate for Orbán and Europe
For his part, Viktor Orbán, who has governed Hungary for years with broad absolute majorities, also voted this morning. In a surprising statement, the prime minister admitted that in case of an "enormous victory" by Magyar, he would be willing to abandon the presidency of Fidesz, the party he himself founded in 1988. Although polls favor Magyar in terms of voting intention, the electoral system reformed in 2011 in favor of Fidesz could play a crucial role, as it does not guarantee a majority in seats for the leader of Tisza.
The elections in Hungary not only have a national impact, but also an international one, given the tense relationship between Orbán and the European Union, which has criticized the prime minister's authoritarian policies and his rapprochement with Vladimir Putin. However, Orbán continues to count on the support of key figures of the European populist movement, as well as the backing of Donald Trump and Putin.
Expectation of decisive results
With polling stations open until 19:00 local time (17:00 GMT), the first relevant results are expected to be announced after 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT). Attention is focused on the outcome of these elections, which could mark a significant turn in the politics not only of Hungary, but also of the region, in a context of growing political polarization.