Less than a week before the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12, anxiety is growing in Hungarian society over the fairness of the electoral process. According to a recent poll by the Publicus Institute of Public Opinion Research, commissioned by the outlet Népszava, 58% of Hungarians fear possible fraud in the upcoming vote. Of these, roughly two-thirds believe it is Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling party Fidesz that might resort to such actions. Only about 30% of respondents completely dismiss such concerns.
Even broader concern surrounds the issue of foreign interference: 79% of those surveyed believe that other countries may attempt to covertly influence the outcome of the elections. Among the potential “interfering” parties, Hungarians name Russia, Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States. Accusations of foreign influence are coming from both sides of the political spectrum.
The opposition party Tisza, led by Péter Magyar, is actively raising alarms about fraud risks, including vote-buying, chain voting, and pressure on voters in poorer regions. Magyar and his supporters also accuse the Kremlin of backing Orbán’s campaign through disinformation, AI-generated videos, and the possible presence of Russian operatives. In response, the Hungarian government and Fidesz claim that it is in fact the opposition that enjoys foreign backing — primarily from Brussels, Kyiv, and Western NGOs — and are pushing narratives about “foreign interference” in order to delegitimize a potential victory by the ruling party.
The 2026 elections are considered among the most significant in Hungary’s modern history. Polls show Tisza leading or running neck-and-neck with Fidesz, which for the first time in 16 years puts Viktor Orbán’s dominance at risk. However, peculiarities of the electoral system — including votes from ethnic Hungarians in neighboring countries — leave the incumbent authorities a chance of retaining a parliamentary majority even with a slight deficit in the popular vote.
International observers, including an OSCE mission, are already operating in the country, though their work is also generating controversy: the opposition and some NGOs have expressed doubts about their impartiality, while the government emphasizes the need to protect sovereignty from external pressure.
With only days left until election day, polarization in Hungarian society has reached its peak. Many voters fear that regardless of the actual results, the losing side may declare the election illegitimate — raising the specter of a post-electoral crisis.