Viktor Orbán has been in power for 16 years and is now aiming to win a fifth consecutive term. But in opinion polls, opposition leader Péter Magyar is leading as citizens express dissatisfaction with, among other things, the country's economy and scandals that have damaged trust in the government.
“The vote will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2026,” President Tamás Sulyok announced in a statement.
Ahead of the election, Orbán has presented himself as a "safe choice" and has accused the EU, among other things, of fueling the war in Ukraine by supporting Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.
Conservative Magyar has promised, among other things, to crack down on what he calls widespread corruption.
