The election on April 12, 2026 was framed by foreign ties and influence. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had a public endorsement from US President Donald Trump, and Hungary maintained friendly relations with Vladimir Putin. US Vice President J.D. Vance visited Budapest a few days before the vote, and rumours circulated about alleged Russian counterintelligence involvement. A voice recording of Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also shaped public debate about Hungary's relations with the EU and Russia.
Voters chose between the incumbent FIDESZ, which had led Hungary for 16 years, and the TISZA party, formed two years ago. TISZA leader Péter Magyar campaigned as pro‑EU and promised to reverse changes critics call autocratic, including ones affecting the judiciary and media.
Turnout reached 79.5 percent. By about 9 p.m. Magyar posted that Orbán had called and congratulated him, and TISZA won a two‑thirds majority. Magyar later promised to end political divisions, begin institutional change and asked longstanding officeholders linked to Orbán to step down. He also urged President Tamás Sulyok to convene the new National Assembly. Public reaction was mixed: about 30 percent appeared disappointed while many others celebrated.
Difficult words
- endorsement — public support for a candidate or policy
- incumbent — current holder of a political office
- judiciary — system of courts and judges
- turnout — percentage of eligible people who vote
- majority — more than half of a group
- convene — to call people to meet formally
- institutional — relating to public organizations and systems
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Discussion questions
- What do you think about foreign ties and influence in elections, as mentioned in the article? Give reasons.
- If you were a voter, which promise by TISZA would matter most to you and why?
- Why might some people be disappointed even after a party wins a large majority? Give one reason from the article and one of your own.
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