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.
Surveys indicate Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party is trailing the centre-right Tisza party led by Péter Magyar, a 45-year-old former ally who broke away from Fidesz in 2024 following a presidential pardon scandal.
The vote is being closely watched by officials in European Union institutions in Brussels, with whom Orbán has repeatedly clashed over concerns about democratic standards in the country of 9.6 million people.
Orbán, who has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has also been at odds with EU partners over his veto of €90bn ($105bn) in aid to Ukraine, linked to disputes over Russian energy supplies.
The 62-year-old has framed the election as a choice between "war and peace". During the campaign, government messaging has warned that Magyar would draw Hungary into Russia’s war in Ukraine, an accusation he strongly rejects.
Orbán has received public backing from allies of Donald Trump, including a recent visit to Budapest by Vice President JD Vance. He has also drawn support from the Kremlin and far-right leaders across Europe.
However, his campaign has been challenged by media reports alleging government links with Moscow. Orbán denies any wrongdoing, saying his priority is to protect Hungary’s national identity, traditional Christian values and security.
Meanwhile, Magyar has tapped into discontent over alleged state corruption and falling living standards.
Polling stations opened at 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and are due to close at 19:00 (17:00 GMT), with voters choosing representatives for the 199-seat parliament.
As the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum ended, Azerbaijan's Pavilion ...
The 13th session of the World Urban Forum concluded in Baku on 22 May after six days of discussions focused on ...
The 13th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku showed Azerbaijan’s “meaningful contribution to multilateralism,” ...
SpaceX has completed a largely successful test flight of Starship V3, the largest and most powerful rocket in history....
The nomination of Russian-Armenian businessman Ruben Vardanyan for the 2026 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize has triggered criticism....
As the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum ended, Azerbaijan's Pavilion showcased reconstruction efforts in its liberated territories and foregrounded the importance of mine removal in resettlement efforts.
The 13th session of the World Urban Forum concluded in Baku on 22 May after six days of discussions focused on housing, climate resilience, urban governance and social inclusion, bringing together tens of thousands of participants from around the world to shape the future of sustainable cities.
The 13th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku showed Azerbaijan’s “meaningful contribution to multilateralism,” the country’s President Ilham Aliyev has said.
SpaceX has completed a largely successful test flight of Starship V3, the largest and most powerful rocket in history.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said Belarus will not be dragged into the war in Ukraine, while also stressing that Minsk and Moscow would jointly respond to any aggression against them.
Fighting in the Russia–Ukraine war has intensified sharply, with both sides launching significant strikes far beyond the front lines as the conflict enters its 1,549th day.
As the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum ended, Azerbaijan's Pavilion showcased reconstruction efforts in its liberated territories and foregrounded the importance of mine removal in resettlement efforts.
A French appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter over the 2009 Rio–Paris crash, marking a major development in a case that has stretched on for 17 years.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 22nd May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least 90 miners have died in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, in what is the country's deadliest mining accident in 17 years. The blast occurred on Friday at 19:29 local time (11:39 GMT) at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, according to Chinese state media.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 23rd May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
SpaceX has completed a largely successful test flight of Starship V3, the largest and most powerful rocket in history.
Ukraine’s military denied that it struck a student dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region on Friday (22 May).
China already dominates the global rare earth supply chain. Now, scientists have discovered new deposits in northeastern China that could prove cheaper and cleaner to extract than those mined elsewhere in the country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment