As Hungary approaches a crucial vote, younger citizens who grew up under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are increasingly backing the opposition, with some saying they may leave if he secures another term.
The 62-year-old nationalist leader, long known for his eurosceptic stance, faces what could be the most serious challenge to his 16 years in power. Opinion polls suggest centre-right contender Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party are positioned to win Sunday’s election.
Magyar, 45, has gained traction among younger voters who feel alienated by Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party, according to sociologists and polling experts.
“Fidesz’s thinking no longer understands young people,” said sociologist Dániel Oross.
University students in particular could prove decisive, he added, noting that if they vote cohesively, they could help a party surpass the 5% threshold required for parliamentary representation.
Hungary has seen a marked increase in emigration since Russia’s 2022 invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, which weighed heavily on the economy and contributed to the European Union’s sharpest inflation surge.
Surveys indicate most people leaving are aged 20 to 34. While some return, overall numbers remain negative. Analysts point to limited opportunities in Hungary, one of the bloc’s poorer members, as a key factor.
Although challenges such as housing affordability affect young people across Europe, domestic issues - including corruption and concerns over education quality - have fuelled discontent. These grievances have sparked repeated protests since Orbán’s re-election in 2022.
For some, including 18-year-old Tamara Pohly, the election represents a turning point.
“I would not like to live in a country, where people voting for Fidesz or standing for the values of Fidesz are in a majority,” she said at a café in Budapest.
Pohly, who hopes to become an industrial designer, said she would consider moving abroad after graduating if Orbán remains in power.
Orbán has introduced policies aimed at younger voters, including income tax exemptions for under-25s and subsidised mortgages to support first-time buyers amid rising housing costs.
“Even in the shadow of war, Hungary has done everything for young Hungarians so they can... have a successful, independent life,” he said during a campaign stop in Szentes.
At times, however, his remarks have struck a sharper tone, dismissing youth opposition as a “phony rebellion” and urging younger generations to appreciate government support.
Polling reflects the challenge. Fidesz commands just 8% support among voters aged 18 to 29, according to Median, rising to 22% among those aged 18 to 39 in research by Závecz.
Magyar has pledged to unlock billions of euros in EU funding frozen over concerns about democratic standards, with plans to invest in education and housing - key issues for younger Hungarians.
Not all young voters oppose Orbán. Some, like 18-year-old Gergő Farkas, cite his experience and commitment to traditional values.
“He is a genuine Hungarian leader,” Farkas said at a rally in Szombathely, adding that those leaving the country over politics were committing “treason.”
“A true Hungarian should not leave because of any given government,” he said. “We will have another election in four years and then you can try again.”
The U.S. military began a blockade of Iran's ports on Monday, President Donald Trump said, and Tehran threaten...
Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States will meet later in Washington to discuss a ceasefire, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubi...
Iran's ports were blocked by the U.S. military on Monday (13 April), President Donald Trump confirmed. Tehran has threatened to retaliate again...
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that any Iranian ships approaching ports in the Strait of Hormuz would be "immediately elimi...
Tensions in the Gulf have sharpened dramatically after reports that the United States has begun a blockade of Iranian ports, a move already ripplin...
Hungary’s election winner Péter Magyar has said he does not support Ukraine’s fast-track entry to the European Union and will uphold an opt-out allowing Hungary to avoid contributing to a €90 billion EU loan for Kyiv.
Centre-right Peter Magyar's Tisza Party has won a landslide in Hungary after a night of counting in the Hungarian election. Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat after 16 years in power. "We have done it. Tisza and Hungary have won this election", Magyar said to cheering supporters in Budapest.
Hungary’s opposition Tisza party is on course for a decisive election victory, with partial official results indicating it could secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority and end Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule.
Hungarians vote in elections on Sunday that could see the end of hard right nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s more than 15 year rule. Opinion polls show Orbán’s Fidesz party trailing 45-year-old Péter Magyar’s centre-right opposition Tisza party.
Israel has reprimanded Spain’s most senior diplomat in Tel Aviv after a giant effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was blown up in a Spanish town.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that any Iranian ships approaching ports in the Strait of Hormuz would be "immediately eliminated" on Monday, as the U.S. started its blockade.
Nine suspects were arrested on Saturday (11 April) in connection with a terror attack targeting a police post in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district.
Millions of Orthodox Christians across the globe celebrated Easter, known as Holy Pascha, on Sunday (12 April) with midnight liturgies, candlelight processions and deeply rooted local traditions reflecting centuries of faith.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a 32-hour ceasefire introduced to mark Orthodox Easter on Saturday (11 April). Russian officials said Ukrainian drones attacked targets in the Kursk and Belgorod border regions, injuring five people.
A U.S. federal judge has dismissed Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, marking a setback in his ongoing legal battles with major media organisations he accuses of publishing misleading coverage.
Hungary’s election winner Péter Magyar has said he does not support Ukraine’s fast-track entry to the European Union and will uphold an opt-out allowing Hungary to avoid contributing to a €90 billion EU loan for Kyiv.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is on a five-day visit to China, his fourth trip in four years, highlighting Spain’s push to strengthen economic and strategic relations with the world’s second-largest economy.
Hungary’s political landscape is entering a new phase after voters brought an end to the long rule of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, with analysts pointing to economic discontent and governing fatigue rather than a decisive ideological break.
Millions of people in Sudan are surviving on just one meal a day as the country’s worsening hunger crisis pushes communities closer to famine, humanitarian organisations have warned.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment