Parliamentary Elections Held in Hungary

Parliamentary elections have commenced in Hungary starting early Sunday morning, with the main competition taking place between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party and Péter Márki-Zay's Tisza political force. Polling stations opened at 06:00 local time in Budapest and will remain operational until 19:00.

Voters are casting their ballots in two formats: for a candidate in a single-member constituency and for a party. Out of 199 parliamentary mandates, 106 will be distributed through these single-member constituencies. To enter parliament, parties must surpass a 5% threshold.

Five parties are participating in the elections. One of the main contenders is Fidesz, which has been leading the country since 2010, while the other is Tisza, formed in 2020. According to sources, Péter Márki-Zay left the ruling party to join the opposition in 2024. Additionally, the ballot includes the left-wing Democratic Coalition, the satirical Two-Tailed Dog Party, and the far-right Our Homeland (Mi Hazánk).

Independent sociological polls predict a confident victory for Tisza, whereas pro-government research centers suggest that Orbán's party may retain its parliamentary majority. According to Hungarian law, the vote counting process must be completed no later than April 18.