Recent polls in Hungary indicate growing support for the TISZA party, challenging Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections.
Polls Signal Potential Shift in Hungarian Politics
Polls published in Hungary on Wednesday reveal a growing expectation that the opposition TISZA party will win this Sunday’s parliamentary elections, regardless of voters’ stated preferences. A study by the Irányítószint Institute also suggests the resulting parliament will likely be comprised of representatives from only two parties.
TISZA Narrows the Gap with Fidesz
According to the poll, the TISZA party, led by Péter Magyar, enjoys the support of 41 percent of the population, while Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has 34 percent. No other party surpassed the 5-percent electoral threshold in the survey. Among declared voters, TISZA secured 51 percent support, and Fidesz received 40 percent.
Growing Sentiment for Change
62 percent of respondents believe Hungary is heading in the wrong direction, while 31 percent disagree. 54 percent of those surveyed expressed a desire to remove Orbán’s government, compared to 38 percent who want the current prime minister to remain in power.
Shift in Expectations Since February
The Irányítószint Institute noted that while a majority of respondents expected a Fidesz victory in February, the latest poll shows 43 percent now believe TISZA will win the elections, compared to 40 percent for Fidesz.
Rising Support for Péter Magyar
The weekly “HVG” presented predictions from the Polymarket platform on the same day, indicating a 69 percent chance of TISZA winning and a 31 percent chance of Fidesz securing a majority of seats in parliament. Hungarian authorities blocked access to the platform in January when it began predicting a Fidesz loss, according to “Nepszava.”
Parliamentary Structure
Hungarians will elect 199 deputies to the unicameral National Assembly (Országgyűlés) on Sunday, with 106 seats filled through single-member districts and the remaining 93 allocated from national party lists. The term of office for parliamentarians is four years.