The general elections in Hungary are scheduled for April 2026 (12 April, if we can accept the numbers on PM Orbán’s T-shirt), and remarkably, popular support for Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party remains strong despite relentless government efforts and continuous attacks from government-affiliated organisations and NGOs.
Péter Magyar painted as a puppet of the EU
Orbán and his government have tried to paint Péter Magyar—the leader of the Tisza Party and Orbán’s main challenger—as a puppet of Brussels and Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yet, this tactic seems to resonate only with Fidesz loyalists. Orbán and his party have struggled to expand their support base but have trailed behind Tisza for months in polls conducted by independent pollsters.
The latest poster campaign featuring Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky and Tisza Party President Péter Magyar. “Like two eggs”, the inscription says. Photo: Facebook/Suha György
According to the latest survey from Republikon, Tisza leads Fidesz with 43% to 34% among voters who say they intend to participate in the next elections and are ready to choose a party. The pollster noted that support levels for the two biggest Hungarian parties remained stable throughout July.
Magyar is visiting even the smallest localities
Meanwhile, as Portfolio reports, government-aligned pollsters have remained silent for the past six months, apparently avoiding publishing polls that show Tisza in the lead—a sharp contrast to the monthly polls regularly released by government-friendly Nézőpont in previous years.
Péter Magyar has shown great dedication to visiting even the smallest Hungarian localities and Hungarian communities abroad—both traditionally strongholds of the Fidesz government. For instance, Fidesz support has exceeded 95% among Hungarian dual citizens living in the Carpathian Basin abroad.
Péter Magyar with locals in Marosvásárhely (Targu Mures). Photo: FB/Péter Magyar
Last weekend, Magyar visited Szeklerland, a Hungarian-majority region in central Romania, where he encountered far less resistance than Jobbik leader Gábor Vona did in 2018, prior to the general elections that secured Fidesz its third consecutive supermajority.
Earlier this summer, Magyar launched the “80 Days Around Hungary” campaign, during which he toured regions like Lake Tisza and Lake Velence. Recently, he was in Vas County—one of the regions where Fidesz enjoys its strongest support, often exceeding 60%.
Lots of Hungarian flags, as if you were on a Fidesz campaign event. Photo: FB/Péter Magyar
Orbán remains confident
Despite Tisza’s notable lead in the polls, PM Orbán remains confident about his victory in 2026. At the government-affiliated MCC Feszt in Esztergom, he declared that they were working hard and aiming for a decisive win. “We have a clear picture of where we stand now and a realistic goal for the upcoming election,” Orbán said, commenting on party support polls.
Early in his speech, Orbán emphasised that the right wing must undergo a “digital conquest” to bring their debates and ideas fully into the digital world. He explained that digital platforms are no longer supplementary to traditional politics; instead, political discourse has shifted entirely online, with its own unique language, logic, and pace.
He warned that if the right fails to master online communication and leaves the space to “left-wing, globalist, liberal forces,” who have “run wild” there for years, their persuasive power will wane. “Without persuasive strength, we will have no supporters and no victory,” Orbán stressed.
Exciting autumn
In a previous article, we explored how Orbán privately discusses his 2026 election chances and a “miracle weapon” he plans to use against Péter Magyar.
This autumn promises to be one of the most exciting chapters in Hungarian politics.
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