Hungarians cast their ballots on Sunday in what was seen as Europe’s toughest election this year, with a record turnout in an election that is likely to unseat populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of US President Donald Trump.
According to an AP report, Sunday’s election marks a pivotal moment for Orbán, the European Union’s longest-serving leader and one of its prominent opponents. He has undergone a remarkable political evolution, from a liberal, anti-Soviet mercenary in his early career to a Russia-friendly nationalist now admired by the global far-right.
Read also | Hungary’s Orban attacks the European Union over the use of frozen Russian assets
Hungary voted on Sunday
The polling station opened at 6am and closed at 7pm, with the first results expected on Sunday evening. Orbán and his main challenger Péter Magyar arrived at separate polling stations in Budapest at almost the same time to cast their votes.
Speaking to reporters, Orbán, 62, said the campaign was “a great national moment on our side” and thanked activists and supporters for their work. “I’m here to win,” he said.
According to the National Electoral Office, turnout was 77 percent at 6:30 p.m., signaling a record turnout in any election in Hungary’s post-communist history. With two hours left until the polls closed, 140,000 more voters had cast ballots than in the entire 2022 election.
Read also | Awkward JD Vance moment: Trump sends call to voicemail during live rally
Hungarian elections, choosing between East or West: Péter Magyar
Orbán’s competitor Magyar told reporters after casting his vote that the election was “a choice between East or West, propaganda or honest public discourse, corruption or clean public life.” He added: “I call on all Hungarian citizens to exercise their right to vote.”
Orbán has consistently resisted European Union efforts to support Ukraine in its war against a full-scale Russian invasion, which began in February 2022. At the same time, he has cultivated close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and refused to end Hungary’s dependence on fossil fuel imports from Moscow.
According to the report, it was recently revealed that a top member of Orbán’s government frequently shared the content of European Union discussions with Moscow, a move that has sparked serious allegations that Budapest is acting on behalf of Russia within the bloc.
The election drew a lot of attention from Europe and beyond, underscoring the extraordinary role Orbán plays in far-right populist politics around the world.
Strained relations between Hungary and the European Union
During his 16-year tenure as Hungary’s prime minister, Orbán was responsible for cracking down on minority rights and media freedom, weakening many Hungarian institutions and facing accusations of funneling large sums of money to crony business elites, claims he denies.
Read also | Orban is raising fears that he is planning a Trump surprise for EU leaders
He is also responsible for the EU’s strained relations with Hungary. Despite Hungary being one of the bloc’s smaller countries with a population of 9.5 million, Orbán has repeatedly used his veto power to block decisions that require unanimity.
He most recently blocked a 90 billion euro ($104 billion) European Union loan to Ukraine, prompting his partners to accuse him of hijacking critical aid.
Still, after winning four consecutive elections with a two-thirds majority for his party in parliament, there have been signs that Orbán’s absolute control over Hungarian politics may be coming to an end.
Key things
- The election demonstrates growing dissatisfaction among Hungarians with Orbán’s government and politics.
- The record turnout indicates a significant shift in political engagement and public interest in the electoral process.
- Orbán’s long-standing ties to Russia and his blocking of EU aid to Ukraine highlight tensions in European politics.
