Hungary faces its toughest test in years as long-ruling PM Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party confront a rising challenge from Péter Magyar and the centre-right Tisza party, which is gaining ground.

With parliamentary elections set for April, Orbán could lose his 16-year hold on power, potentially reshaping Hungary’s political trajectory.

Magyar, a former government insider and Tisza leader, positions himself as the main rival who pledges to curb illiberal policies and strengthen EU and NATO relations.

The contest is framed as a broader ideological battle across Hungary and Europe, with implications for security, corruption, and EU funding.

A Magyar victory could restore democratic institutions, reintegrate Hungary into the EU, reduce Moscow-aligned influence in the Visegrád Group, and alter stance toward the Trump administration.

Magyar has pledged anti-corruption reforms and aims to unlock billions in EU funds frozen over concerns about judicial independence and corruption.

His platform emphasizes unfreezing EU funds to boost the economy while preserving strong EU and NATO ties, signaling a shift toward a more EU-aligned course compared to Orbán.

The official campaign period will begin on February 21, enabling signature collection and a nationwide poster campaign.

Orbán has portrayed Hungary as an illiberal democracy with contentious EU relations, media restrictions, anti-immigration and LGBTQ concerns, disinformation, and corruption criticisms, while maintaining links to Russia and favorable views toward certain Western leaders.

The economy faces roughly a quarter-century of modest growth and rising living costs, with inflation partly driven by global events and the Ukraine conflict, intensifying the scramble to boost growth before the vote.

The election centers on competing visions: Orbán’s security-focused message versus Magyar’s anti-corruption and EU-funding revival platform.

Orbán frames the race as a war-versus-peace choice, alleging the Tisza movement is an EU-backed plot to topple his government and draw Hungary into the Ukraine conflict, a claim disputed by opponents.