Hungarians are heading to the polls in a hard-fought parliamentary election that could bring an end to Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power and reshape the country’s ties with the European Union, Moscow and Washington.
The vote comes after a campaign in which Orbán, the European Union’s longest-serving leader, has trailed in the polls. His main challenge comes from Péter Magyar, a former elite member of Orbán’s Fidesz party, who has emerged as an unprecedented rival.
The contest has drawn wide attention because of what is at stake both domestically and internationally. A change in leadership would mark one of the most significant political shifts in central Europe in years, especially given Orbán’s long tenure and his often strained relationship with Brussels.
Orbán has also received support from the United States in the form of JD Vance’s recent visit, but that backing has not altered the fact that he enters election day behind in opinion surveys.
For Orbán, the election represents a serious challenge to his political dominance. For Magyar, it is an opportunity to translate growing momentum into a result that would dramatically change the direction of Hungarian politics.
The outcome will be closely watched across Europe and beyond, not only because of the prospect of a leadership change after 16 years, but also because of the potential consequences for Hungary’s foreign policy, its position within the EU, and its relations with both Moscow and Washington.
