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PoliticsHungary

Hungary's Orban slumps in polls, 6 months before election

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October 22, 2025

In April 2026, Hungarians will vote in what may be their most fiercely contested election yet. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has ruled Hungary for the last 15 years and put in place legal barriers that will complicate a transfer of power if the opposition wins.

In Budapest, Hungary's youth and disillusioned voters are calling for change. Even in rural strongholds of the ruling Fidesz party, some long-time supporters of Prime Minister Viktor Orban are reconsidering their loyalty amid economic hardship. After 15 years in power, challenger Peter Magyar of the main opposition party, TISZA, is gaining ground. But to reverse Orban's entrenched policies, Magyar would need a rare supermajority — even if he wins the elections in April 2026. With nearly a third of voters still undecided, the outcome may hinge on whether he can convince them he offers real solutions to Hungary's economic and social challenges.

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