Hungary’s Election: War, Peace and a Tug‑of‑War Over the Future

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has ruled Hungary for 16 years, is turning the upcoming April election into a showdown about war versus peace. He warns that if his opponents win, Hungary could be pulled into the conflict in neighboring Ukraine. Orban says his party, Fidesz, is the safe choice for peace and urges voters to sign a national petition that would reject EU money for Ukraine. State‑controlled TV keeps repeating this message, and billboards across the country show an opposition leader giving a thumbs‑up to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s call for money and weapons for Ukraine, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pleads for help. Orban has long clashed with the European Union over Ukraine. He keeps friendly ties with Moscow, refuses to supply weapons to Kyiv, and insists that Ukraine can never join the EU. In contrast, the centre‑right Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, claims it wants Hungary to re‑enter the European mainstream after years of strained relations under Orban. Magyar dismisses Orban’s campaign as laughable propaganda, but the Tisza party is cautious about Ukraine, saying it would put any fast‑track EU accession for Kyiv to a binding referendum if it wins power. Ukraine needs the backing of all 27 EU members to join. Hungary’s economy is stuck in a slump after an inflation surge triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Analysts say Orban focuses on the war because his economic record is weak. He presents himself as a guarantor of stability and security, warning that if he leaves office there will be chaos. This strategy has helped strengthen Fidesz’s base, but it is unclear whether it will win over undecided voters or those who have drifted to Tisza. In the Fidesz stronghold of Gyongyos, some residents say the war is a key concern. “We should not trade stability for uncertainty; no one wants war, ” says Szabolcs Dauka, 39. Others worry more about the economy. “The anti‑Ukraine campaign doesn’t interest me, ” says Orsolya Bakos, 56. “What matters is the future of our children – hospitals and education are in shambles. ”Orban hopes his anti‑Ukraine stance will resonate with voters the way his tough migration policy has done since 2015, when he built a border fence to keep out migrants. He compares joining the war to crossing a one‑way street: once you’re in, you can’t get out. He also accuses Kyiv and Brussels of meddling in Hungary’s election, a charge both sides deny. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry even summoned Hungary’s ambassador to Kyiv in January over the allegations. The European Commission says that ending the war and ensuring lasting peace requires maintaining economic pressure on Russia and admitting Ukraine to the EU once it meets the criteria. Public opinion in Hungary has cooled toward Kyiv as the war drags on. A December survey found that opposition to EU aid for Ukraine rose from 41% in 2023 to 63% in 2025, and 64% of Hungarians oppose Kyiv’s EU membership. According to Andras Biro‑Nagy, director of Policy Solutions in Budapest, Orban’s comments on Ukraine might resonate beyond his base, sparking debate even among Tisza supporters and attracting undecided voters. While the Tisza party campaigns on tackling corruption and reviving the economy, it currently leads Fidesz by 8‑12 percentage points among decided voters. Pro‑government pollsters, however, show a Fidesz lead, and many voters remain undecided. Magyar says voters want to hear about real issues: pensions, the cost of living, people leaving Hungary, and lowering inflation.