Hungary’s Vote: A Tight Race Between Tisza and Fidesz

The upcoming April 12 election in Hungary has turned into a close contest, with the centre‑right Tisza party pulling ahead of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz. Two recent opinion polls show Tisza gaining ground, but many voters still have not made up their minds. In a survey by the 21 Research Centre, Tisza captured 56% of those who had decided on a candidate, up from 53% in early March. Fidesz fell to 37%, down from 39% a few weeks earlier. About one‑quarter of respondents were unsure about whom to support. The poll, which interviewed 1, 500 people between March 23 and 28, found a 19‑point lead for Tisza over Fidesz—an increase from the earlier 14‑point margin. Another study by Zavecz Research, published on Tuesday, also shows Tisza widening its advantage. Among voters who had made a decision, 51% backed Tisza compared with 38% for Fidesz, a small gain from February’s numbers. The survey counted 1, 000 participants and reported that 20% were still undecided.Tisza’s leader, Peter Magyar, promises to fight corruption, unlock EU funds that have been frozen, and keep Hungary firmly tied to the European Union and NATO. He claims these steps will boost the economy, but critics question whether his promises can be delivered. Fidesz counters by citing other polls that still predict a win for the ruling party. Opponents argue those studies are often conducted by groups with ties to the government, which could bias the results. The two independent surveys mentioned above were carried out through phone calls and online questionnaires, adding credibility to their findings. Both polls also note that the far‑right party Our Homeland could be the only other contender to reach the 5% threshold needed for parliamentary representation. Support for this party hovered around 4‑5% among those who had decided. With the election just over a month away, the political landscape in Hungary remains fluid. The significant number of undecided voters could tip the balance, making the final outcome uncertain.