Hungary election: Peter Magyar challenges long-time leader Viktor Orban

Skip next section Welcome to our coverageApril 12, 2026Welcome to our coverageHungarians head to the polls in ​a crucial parliamentary election on Sunday. At stake is the future of long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has led the nation of 9.5 million people since 2010. Orban is facing the biggest political test of his career from Peter Magyar's center-right Tisza party, which holds a clear lead over Orban's Fidesz in polls. Polling booths open at 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT/UTC) and close at 7 p.m. Around 8 million Hungarians are eligible to vote on Sunday. Stay tuned for the latest developments on the high-stakes election in Hungary. Hungary election 2026: power, billions and Orban's ruleTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/5C2Om