With 98.89% of the vote counted, TISZA won 138 seats, Fidesz-KDNP secured 55 seats, and Mi Hazánk obtained 6 seats.

The outcome marks a major political shift in Hungary, where Orbán had been one of Europe’s most controversial leaders. He was widely seen as the European Union’s most autocratic leader and maintained close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. His removal is expected to ease tensions within the EU, where officials have long accused him of undermining democratic systems and taking advantage of institutional weaknesses.

Orbán also faced criticism over his stance on Ukraine. He was accused of supporting actions that helped block €90 billion in European support to Ukraine, raising concerns among European leaders about Hungary’s role in the bloc.

Despite endorsements from Trump and campaign support that included visits from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, the vote appeared to be driven mainly by domestic issues.

Voters were reported to be concerned about Hungary’s economic challenges, as well as allegations of corruption and cronyism linked to Orbán’s administration. The scale of the defeat indicated widespread dissatisfaction, as TISZA was projected to dominate both the national party-list vote and many individual constituencies.

In his speech to supporters, Magyar promised to return Hungary to the main fold of European politics , pledging a pro-European Union and pro-NATO direction for the country.

“My fellow citizens, Hungary will once again be a strong ally in the European Union and NATO. Hungary will once again be a strong ally representing Hungarian interests, because our country's place for a thousand years in Europe was, is, and will be. We will rebuild and strengthen, we will place it on new foundations and expand the cooperation of the Visegrad Four wherever possible,” he said.

The result sparked celebrations in Budapest, where tens of thousands of people took to the streets.

With a projected majority above the threshold required to govern alone, Magyar is expected to form the next government , ending Orbán’s long hold on power and signalling a shift in Hungary’s position within Europe.

This is the end of our live coverage of the 2026 Hungarian parliamentary election. Follow all Global South World Channels for more updates.

01:43 GMT : After 16 years of Orbán, Hungary votes for change as Magyar vows return to Europe

H ungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has lost power after 16 years following a decisive election defeat , with more than 98% of votes counted in a result expected to have political implications beyond Hungary.

Near-final results from the National Election Office show that Orbán’s ruling Fidesz-KDNP alliance suffered a heavy loss in the 199-seat parliament, while opposition challenger Péter Magyar and his TISZA movement secured a commanding lead.

With 98.89% of the vote counted, TISZA won 138 seats, Fidesz-KDNP secured 55 seats, and Mi Hazánk obtained 6 seats.

In his speech to supporters, Magyar promised to return Hungary to the main fold of European politics, pledging a pro-European Union and pro-NATO direction for the country.

20:50 GMT : Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has conceded defeat in key parliamentary elections, marking a significant political shift after 16 years in power. Orban lost to his rival, conservative Peter Magyar, a former government insider and political newcomer who has promised “system change.” The election outcome signals a challenge to Orban’s long-standing leadership in the central European country. “The election results, though not yet final, are clear and understandable; for us, they are painful but unambiguous. We have not been entrusted with the responsibility and opportunity to govern. I congratulated the winning party,” Orban said.

19:51 GMT : After 16 years in power, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is on course to lose by a wide margin in Sunday’s vote. With more than 53 % of the vote counted, his opponent Péter Magyar was projected to win 136 seats in the 199-seat parliament, while Orbán’s Fidesz party was on track to secure 56 seats. Magyar stated on his official social media account that Orbán had called to congratulate him.

17:43 GMT : Polling stations across Hungary have closed following the national parliament election held today. The National Election Office (NVI) is expected to begin the official vote count, with preliminary results scheduled to be released later tonight.

17:40 GMT : Voter turnout in Hungary’s national parliament election reached 77.80% by 18:30 (1630 GMT) in 2026, according to data from the National Election Office. The figure marks an increase compared to previous election years. In 2022, turnout at the same time stood at 67.80%, while in 2018 it was recorded at 68.13%. The data indicates a rise of 10 percentage points from 2022 to 2026, and a 9.67 percentage point increase from 2018 to 2026.

16:26 GMT : Less than an hour to go before polls close. Over 5.5 million voters had already cast their ballots as of 17:00 (1500 GMT). According to the National Election Office, the current voter turnout is at 74.23% of eligible voters, with 25.77% yet to vote.

14:42 GMT : Voters in Budapest expressed mixed views on Sunday as they queued outside polling stations for Hungary’s parliamentary elections, following a campaign marked by allegations of foreign interference.

"We have never encountered such a disgusting campaign before," one voter said.

13:52 GMT : Less than 4 hours to go before polls close, and the voter turnout data remains high. According to the National Election Office, more than 4.9 million, representing 66.01% of eligible voters, had already cast their vote at 15:00 (1300 GMT).

13:02 GMT : Turnout in Hungary’s closely watched parliamentary election reached record levels by midday on Sunday, April 12, according to figures from the National Election Office.

More than 4 million voters had cast their ballots by 13:00 (1100 GMT), representing 54.14% of eligible voters. Authorities reported that turnout hit 54% by noon, which is more than 14 percentage points higher than at the same stage in the 2022 election.

Opinion polls suggest that the Tisza party, led by pro-European conservative Peter Magyar, is performing ahead of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s party. Magyar, a former government insider, has pledged a “system change,” and analysts say the high turnout could work in his favour.

11:33 GMT : 7 hours of voting done, 6 hours more until polls close in the pivotal Hungarian parliamentary elections. Voter turnout continues to remain high, according to the figures from the National Election Office, with over 4 million voters (54.14% of eligible voters) as at 13:00 (1100 GMT).

10:52 GMT : Magyar has described the country’s parliamentary election as a decisive moment for political change, positioning it as a choice on governance and public communication. After casting his vote, Magyar, who is the main rival of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said the election could mark a turning point in Hungary’s political system. He stated that “today, there will be a change of system in Hungary.”

10:02 GMT : Peter Magyar, leader of the pro-European conservative TISZA party, has cast his ballot in Hungary’s closely watched parliamentary elections. The vote is being seen as a significant political moment that could bring an end to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year period in power. Magyar’s participation comes as voters decide whether to continue with the current leadership or support a shift in direction.

09:53 GMT : 5 hours since polls opened, recorded voter turnout as at 11:00 (0900 GMT) is 37.98%, representing over 2.8 million voters. The turnout so far from this year's vote stands higher than the last 4 elections.

09:27 GMT : Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban spoke to journalists at a polling centre as voters went to the polls in Budapest for the parliamentary elections, outlining his position on Hungary’s relationship with the European Union and responding to a question about Ukraine.

He responded to reports that officials in Brussels could challenge the outcome if he secured victory, stating, “To deny? No, they have to accept the intention and the will and express the opinion of the people.”

“We are members of the European Union, and this is the right which belongs to the member states,” he added. “We firmly stand on the basis of the national rights and sovereignty.”

When asked whether he would consider ceding territory to Russia in a hypothetical peace deal if he were leading Ukraine, Orban replied, “I'm lucky enough not to be Zelensky.”

08:37 GMT : Orban cast his ballot on Sunday as he faces his most significant electoral challenge in more than ten years. Footage showed Orban arriving in a van alongside his wife, Anikó Lévai, entering a polling station surrounded by journalists, voting, and then leaving the premises.

08:16 GMT : Voter turnout recorded as at 09:00 (0700 GMT) is 16.89%, representing 1,271,768 of registered voters, according to the National Election Office. Voting has been ongoing for over 3 hours since polls opened at 0400 GMT. The turnout so far has exceeded the last 4 elections

06:31 GMT : Over 2 hours since polls officially opened at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) across the various voting centres in the country. The voting is expected to end at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT), with results expected later in the evening.

06:18 GMT : As at 07:00 local time, the voter turnout recorded was 3.46%, representing 260,556 of registered voters, according to the National Election Office.

06:02 GMT : US Vice President JD Vance accused the EU of interfering in Hungary’s elections, describing it as one of the most serious cases he has seen. Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Orban in Budapest on Tuesday, Vance said the EU had taken actions that negatively affected Hungary.

05:43 GMT : During a final campaign address in Budapest, Orban described the country’s election as a defining moment for national sovereignty, warning of foreign interference and outlining his government’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

He said Hungary would not support Ukraine with resources or military assistance. “We will not give our children to Ukraine, we will not give our money, and we will not give our weapons,” he said. “Hungary will remain an island of peace and will continue to be the safest country in Europe after the elections.”

05:06 GMT : In the lead-up to the polls, the ruling Fidesz party saturated Hungarian streets with posters that frame the upcoming election as an existential choice between "war or peace" by depicting foreign leaders and the domestic opposition as menacing threats. Prominent billboards feature "harshly lit" and unflattering portraits of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, portraying them as the faces of a "pro-war lobby" in Brussels intent on dragging Hungary into the conflict. At the same time, opposition leader Magyar is branded as an “agent of Brussels”.

04:53 GMT : Magyar, 45, is not a typical opposition figure. He comes from Orbán’s inner circle and broke away after a corruption and pardon scandal. Since then, his Tisza Party has gained momentum. His focus is different. He talks about the economy, corruption, and the rule of law, what he calls everyday issues. He has also promised to unlock between €18 billion and €22.5 billion in frozen EU funds by restoring Hungary’s alignment with European standards. Unlike past challengers, Magyar connects with voters in rural areas through retail politics, and his right-leaning background makes him harder to dismiss. Read more

04:43 GMT : Ahead of Sunday's election, Prime Minister Orbán urged voters to back his ruling Fidesz party, warning that Hungary could lose key achievements on migration, energy protection and its confrontational stance toward Brussels if the opposition prevails.

04:29 GMT : Why Hungary's election could change more than just its government

Hungary heads to the polls in what many are calling its most important election since the end of communism in 1989.

For the first time in 16 years, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is facing a serious challenge not from the usual opposition but from someone who once stood beside him.

That challenger is Péter Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who now leads the Tisza (Respect and Freedom) Party. What looks like a domestic political contest is also being watched closely far beyond Hungary, with implications for the EU, the US, Russia, and Ukraine.

Orbán’s campaign has focused heavily on the idea of “war or peace.” He has positioned himself as Hungary’s protector, warning that “progressive forces” in the West and Ukraine are trying to pull the country into conflict. Read more

04:00 GMT : Polls open in Hungary

Polling stations open at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) and close at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT), with results expected later in the evening. According to the National Election Office, there are over 8.1 million eligible voters.

What to know about the election and possible outcomes

The election is being hailed as the most pivotal moment for the country since the collapse of communism in 1989. Opinion polls suggest that Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his nationalist Fidesz party could lose power after 16 years to the centre-right, pro-European Union Tisza party, led by former Orban loyalist Peter Magyar.

The Key Players

How the voting works

Exactly 8,114,688 registered voters will elect 199 members of parliament. Of these, 106 are chosen in single-member constituencies under a first-past-the-post system, while 93 are selected from national party and ethnic minority lists.

Since 2010, Orbán has rewritten election laws, including gerrymandering districts and making it easier for Hungarians living abroad to vote. Ethnic Hungarians living abroad have the right to citizenship and can vote on party lists by letter. According to National Election Office data, close to 500,000 such citizens have registered for the 2026 election, and most have traditionally supported Fidesz.

The Tisza Party may need to lead Fidesz by at least six percentage points nationally just to secure a simple majority. Voters with a registered Hungarian address must vote in person, either at polling stations in Hungary or at official representations abroad.

Parties must secure at least 5% of the vote to enter parliament.

What happens after the election

President Tamas Sulyok will convene the new parliament within 30 days of the election, likely in May.

Parliament elects the prime minister by a simple majority vote. The president proposes a candidate, usually from the winning party, and parliament votes on the nomination.

If the proposed candidate is not elected, the president must submit a new proposal within 15 days. If parliament fails again to elect a prime minister, the president can dissolve parliament and call a new election.

Core campaign issues

International and geopolitical stakes

Potential scenarios

Orbán accused the opposition Tisza party of threatening stability and suggested a change of government could pull Hungary closer to Brussels and deeper into external conflicts. The election has increasingly been framed by Orbán as a choice between “peace and war,” with his campaign focusing heavily on immigration, the war in Ukraine and Hungary’s fraught relationship with the European Union .

The vote on April 12 is shaping up to be Orbán’s toughest contest in years. Opposition leader Péter Magyar and his Tisza party have gained momentum by casting the election as a referendum on Hungary’s place in Europe and on Orbán’s 16 years in power, during which critics say democratic standards have eroded and ties with Brussels have deteriorated.

Recent polling has painted a mixed picture, though several independent surveys have shown Tisza ahead among likely voters, while Orbán has retained strong backing in rural areas and among older Hungarians.

That challenger is Péter Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who now leads the Tisza (Respect and Freedom) Party. What looks like a domestic political contest is also being watched closely far beyond Hungary, with implications for the EU, the US, Russia, and Ukraine.

Orbán’s campaign has focused heavily on the idea of “war or peace.” He has positioned himself as Hungary’s protector, warning that “progressive forces” in the West and Ukraine are trying to pull the country into conflict.

Across Budapest, that message is hard to miss. Posters show Volodymyr Zelensky and Ursula von der Leyen as threatening figures, often described as part of a “pro-war lobby.” Orbán has also claimed—without evidence—that Ukraine could attack Hungary. His allies have gone further, branding Magyar as an “agent of Brussels.”

Magyar, 45, is not a typical opposition figure . He comes from Orbán’s inner circle and broke away after a corruption and pardon scandal. Since then, his Tisza Party has gained momentum.

His focus is different. He talks about the economy, corruption, and the rule of law, what he calls everyday issues. He has also promised to unlock between €18 billion and €22.5 billion in frozen EU funds by restoring Hungary’s alignment with European standards.

Unlike past challengers, Magyar connects with voters in rural areas through retail politics, and his right-leaning background makes him harder to dismiss.

The outcome matters on several levels. At home, Hungary is ranked as the most corrupt country in the EU, with most of its media and judiciary under state control. A Magyar win would aim to reverse that and dismantle what critics call a “soft autocracy.”

In Europe, Orbán has built a reputation as the EU’s “disruptor-in-chief,” often blocking aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Some EU leaders are now even considering suspending Hungary’s voting rights.

There are also wider geopolitical stakes. Hungary has been accused of acting as Moscow’s “mole” inside the EU, with leaked calls suggesting coordination with Russian diplomats. If Orbán loses, Russia could lose a key ally, and Ukraine could find stronger support.

In the US, Orbán has backing from Donald Trump and has hosted Vice President JD Vance, but some US Senators are pushing sanctions over Hungary’s ties to Russian energy.

Even with polls putting Tisza ahead by 10 to 12 points, victory is not certain. Orbán has reshaped the system, rewriting the constitution and gerrymandering districts to favour Fidesz.

Experts say Magyar may need at least a six-point lead just to win a majority. The campaign has also been hit by claims of Russian-backed disinformation, known as “Gamechanger,” aimed at damaging the opposition and even suggesting staged assassination plots.

“Ukrainians have clear objectives. The goal of the Ukrainians is to oust Russian gas from Europe and exclude Russian oil entirely. To this end, they have taken political steps, and even legal actions have been initiated, as we must not forget that the first such violent event related to energy supply was the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline,” he said.

He further alleged a pattern of actions targeting energy infrastructure.

“Ukrainians blew up the Nord Stream pipeline, and then they closed the major natural gas pipeline through their territory,” Szijjarto continued. “In recent weeks, they attacked several times with dozens of drones the TurkStream pipeline on Russian territory. And now, it aligns with this that yesterday the Serbian authorities prevented a terrorist attack in which they intended to blow up the Serbian section of the TurkStream pipeline.”

The Nord Stream pipeline explosions in 2022 were blamed on Ukraine, with German investigators identifying Ukrainian divers involved. The United States was also implicated in some media reports, while both Washington and Kyiv denied involvement.

Szijjarto stated that TurkStream plays a key role in Hungary’s energy supply, accounting for about 56% of its daily gas needs. He announced plans to deploy military protection along the 250-kilometre pipeline.

Europe is not immune. In the coming weeks, Slovenia and Hungary will hold parliamentary elections that go far beyond routine political contests: they are a referendum on whether citizens will stop the normalisation of authoritarian power, or permit it to entrench itself at the heart of the European Union.

On March 22 in Slovenia and on April 12 in Hungary, our people will each face drastically contrasting visions of our future. On one side, the promise of a democratic and European future represented by liberal values and politics based on trust and consensus.

On the other, authoritarianism and destruction of our most fundamental democratic institutions.

Hungary knows this choice all too well, having lived this nightmare to become the EU’s worst performer in terms of press freedom, rule of law, electoral interference, and corruption . That is what happens when authoritarians like Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party dominate a nation’s politics for most of the past 30 years.

Slovenia has been more fortunate, but only because Orban’s authoritarian soulmate, Janez Jansa, has been electorally impotent, as his party, the SDS, has only been able to form a post-election coalition one time in the past 15 years.

Still, Jansa appears determined to pull out all the stops to reverse this losing trend and is relying on tried-and-true methods from Orban’s bag of dirty tricks that Hungarians know all too well. On Monday of this week, one of the most active NGOs in Slovenia called March 8, held a press conference at which they presented jaw-dropping proof that the Israeli firm Black Cube masterminded a series of secret recordings meant to discredit the current democratic coalition led by Prime Minister Robert Golob.

Hungary, of course, is no stranger to Black Cube’s dirty tricks, as they intervened similarly to help Viktor Orban cling to power in the past.

These manipulations, encouraged and financed by parts of the extreme American right, along with election interference by Russia in Romania and Moldova, are a direct affront to our national sovereignty. They must be defeated and rejected.

Hungarians know how sophisticated modern autocrats have become. They no longer rely only on open repression. They capture newsrooms through politically connected oligarchs, intimidate critical voices in the name of “sovereignty,” invent imaginary enemies, and slowly build a quasi-autocracy inside the European Union itself.

Slovenia must not be allowed to become the next case study in that method. No one from abroad should dictate to Slovenian citizens whom they should entrust with leading their country, just as no European nation should be forced to accept foreign-backed interference as the new normal.

This year’s campaign has shown how low the extreme authoritarian rights are prepared to go in the pursuit of power. They are not interested in the lives of people in this country. What they seek is total control — control over everyone and everything in society — and the ability to rule without limits.

Democracy can’t survive on inertia alone. Personal freedom is a value that must be nurtured and protected. Once fear is normalized, hatred follows, and hatred can turn into violence. That is not the future we want for our children in Slovenia, in Hungary, or anywhere in Europe. As European women elected to office to represent our fellow citizens, we are particularly aware of the danger and legacy of hate that pervades right-wing ideology in our region.

Most Slovenians – and most Hungarians – oppose this brand of politics and do not want to live in a country where the authorities suppress the freedoms of individuals or groups, silence different opinions at home, and at the same time behave submissively toward authoritarian regimes abroad.

In the coming weeks, our two countries have a chance to prove that this politics of manipulation, intimidation, and institutional corrosion can still be defeated in the most democratic way possible: by citizens who think for themselves, who refuse to surrender their sovereignty, and who turn out in large numbers to defend their freedom at the ballot box.

We love our respective nations and will not allow our sovereignty to be taken away now or ever. And we personally will never be submissive to anyone. We are convinced that the events of this campaign will only motivate free-thinking, proud and active citizens even more to participate in the elections in large numbers.

Slovenia and Hungary must remain an independent, confident and sovereign states. And when we prevail at home, we will also strike a victory for the rules-based order, for consensus-based foreign policy that respects vaulted institutions like the European Union and the United Nations.

This opinion article represents the views of its authors and publication does not imply endorsement by Global South World.

His remarks came during a high-profile gathering of Europe’s far-right leaders convened by French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen in the Loiret region south of Paris.

The meeting, held to commemorate the first anniversary of Le Pen’s National Rally’s best-ever performance in European elections, served as a rallying point for anti-immigration forces emboldened by Donald Trump ’s return to the White House and recent electoral gains across Europe.

Joining Orban were prominent right-wing figures, including Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the League party, Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s Vox party and Andrej Babis, former Czech Prime Minister.

Speaking at the meeting, Orban reaffirmed his longstanding position that Europe’s migration policy is fundamentally flawed.

"We will not let them destroy our cities and the safety of our streets. We will not let them violate our daughters and our women. We will not allow peaceful citizens to be killed. My friends, we will not stand idly by, pointing at Brussels and international law like losers. We will act. What is happening is not migration, it is an organised exchange of populations intended to replace the cultural bedrock of Europe," he said.

The European Union has long sought to manage migration through a mix of border controls, humanitarian resettlement, and burden-sharing among member states. Key elements include:

The newly instated amendment emphasizes that the rights of children to moral, physical, and spiritual development supersede all other rights, apart from the right to life. Moreover, it explicitly restricts the depiction or promotion of homosexuality for individuals under 18 years of age in the interests of "child protection."

In practical terms, this amendment allows authorities to ban public activities organized by LGBTQ+ communities, which includes events like Budapest Pride. Further measures permit law enforcement to employ facial recognition technology to identify participants at banned events, potentially imposing fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints or approximately 546 US dollars. Critics express that such constitutional alterations serve to distract the public from pressing national issues and bolster support for Orban ahead of forthcoming elections .

Previously reported by UNN, the ruling FIDESZ party has consistently expressed intentions to prevent annual pride parades in Budapest, highlighting an ongoing conflict between the government and LGBTQ+ rights advocates in Hungary.