The opposition has won the parliamentary elections in Hungary. What does this mean?
Parliamentary elections were held in Hungary on April 12, which were confidently won by the Tisa party led by Peter Magyar. This means that Magyar is likely to take over as prime minister, replacing Viktor Orban, who has led the country since 2010. What the result of these elections means for Budapest, Europe and Russia is in the Izvestia article.
The course of the elections
• Parliamentary elections were held in Hungary on April 12 (we wrote about the importance of voting for Budapest and the entire region here). The main question was whether the Fidesz party, led by Viktor Orban, would be able to win a fifth victory in a row. She was opposed by the Tisa party led by Peter Magyar, a former ally of Orban.
199 deputies of the unicameral parliament were elected. Five key forces participated in the elections: the Fidesz and Christian Democrat coalition, Tisa, the Our Motherland movement, the Democratic Coalition and the Two-Tailed Dog Party. In addition, eight parties and 33 independent candidates were nominated in individual districts.
• Orban has been winning elections for a long time due to the fragmentation of his opponents, but this time there is one strong competitor. Magyar went to the polls after breaking with power in 2024 and quickly strengthened his position. His party had already gained about 30% in the European Parliament elections, and in 2026 he focused on working with voters in regions and small towns.
• The election campaign was tough and was accompanied by loud accusations. During the campaign, there were allegations of pressure attempts, information leaks, and outside interference. Orban's staff emphasized the external agenda and warned about the risks associated with Ukraine. Magyar focused on internal issues such as rising prices, the state of the economy, and corruption.
Orban's defeat can be partly explained by contradictions in his own rhetoric. The image of the defender of sovereignty was undermined when external players openly supported him in the elections: the visit of US Vice President Jay Dee Vance on the eve of the vote also did a disservice. It looked like interference and undermined the stated principles. As a result, the Hungarian elections showed that the right-wing conservative agenda remains in demand, but voters are ready to change those who implement it.
Winners' plans
• The winning Magyar party took a center-right position and emphasized the fight against corruption. Magyar stated the need to strengthen control over budget expenditures and change the judicial system. He also suggested connecting the country to the European Prosecutor's Office.
• In addition, the party announced plans to unlock about €18 billion ($21 billion), frozen by the European Union due to violations of the rule of law by the Orban government, and direct these funds to key industries. Healthcare, education, and infrastructure are top priorities. Magyar proposed to reduce the budget deficit and bring the country closer to the requirements of the eurozone by 2030. His program includes tax reforms, support for small and medium-sized businesses, and strengthening financial discipline. In the energy sector, the party aims to reduce dependence on Russian resources by 2035 and expand the share of renewable sources.
• In the social sphere, Tisa proposed to increase salaries for doctors and social workers, as well as expand support for pensioners and families. An important element of the program was the reduction of VAT on food and medicines. The party has also developed initiatives for the return of more than 500,000 citizens living abroad. Additionally, the party is discussing limiting the term of office to 8 years for key positions.
• In foreign policy, the party focuses on strengthening cooperation with the EU and NATO. Magyar outlined a course towards restoring the trust of European partners and active participation in international institutions. He supported an increase in defense spending and the development of ties with the United States.
• At the same time, the position on migration remains tough, and the party advocates strict border control. On the issue of EU enlargement, Tisa proposes to take into account the opinion of citizens through a referendum. The overall course is aimed at strengthening the country's resilience and reducing external risks.
• Magyar's victory may also create difficulties for Ukraine: the future Hungarian prime minister opposes the transfer of weapons and finances to Kiev, as well as Ukraine's accelerated accession to the EU. At the same time, he allows unblocking a loan of €90 billion, which is critically important, since Ukraine may run out of funds in the summer. However, Magyar is going to put the issue of support to a referendum, which can delay the decision due to strong anti-Ukrainian sentiments in the country.
Hungary's future
Hungary has become the center of attention in the international arena. The European Union closely followed the results of the vote. Orban clashed with Brussels and repeatedly used his veto power, including blocking the aid package to Ukraine. He maintained contacts with Russia and promoted a course to protect national interests. The EU leadership did not like all this, so European leaders were encouraged by the news of his likely resignation.
• Despite the desire to strengthen relations with Brussels, Magyar announced his intention to maintain dialogue with Moscow. He stressed that geography and energy dependence remain unchanged, so negotiations will continue.
• Experts believe that there will be no drastic changes in foreign policy. Budapest is likely to change its style of interaction with the European Union and Ukraine. However, some experts admit noticeable changes in the political course, both internally and externally, which will be more focused on cooperation with the EU.
• In domestic politics, a turn towards the reforms that the EU insists on is likely. We are talking about liberalizing the economy in order to gain access to previously frozen European funds. The prospect of Hungary joining the eurozone by 2030 is also being discussed, which implies closer integration and dependence on pan-European rules.
In foreign policy, the country is likely to become more loyal to the line of the EU and NATO. Budapest's decisions will more often coincide with the pan-European position, including issues that were previously blocked.
• Cooperation with Russia in the fields of gas, oil and nuclear energy may be gradually reduced and reviewed. Hungary is also likely to stop blocking EU initiatives, including support for Ukraine and sanctions measures, which will generally strengthen policy coherence within the European Union.
What does this mean?
• The winning Tisa party is not liberal: it advocates a strict migration policy, opposes the supply of weapons and finances to Ukraine, and opposes the country's accelerated accession to the EU. Her support largely came from former supporters of Orban, with the same views and values. In fact, this is a replacement of one version of the national conservative course with another, more moderate and focused on cooperation with the EU and NATO.
When writing the material, Izvestia talked and took into account the opinions of:
- Igor Semenovsky, political scientist, Associate Professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation;
- political scientist Gleb Kuznetsov;
- political scientist Malek Dudakov;
- political scientist Ivan Mezyuho.
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