Hungary’s Tisza Party Takes Lead in Polls as Far-Right Group Nears Parliament Entry

Post by : Saif Nasser

Hungary’s political landscape is showing signs of major change as a new opinion poll suggests the opposition Tisza party is leading Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s long-ruling Fidesz party ahead of the April 12 national election. The same poll also indicates that a far-right party, Our Homeland, is likely to enter parliament for the first time, adding further uncertainty to the race.

The poll was carried out by the 21 Institute and published by Hungarian news website 24.hu. It shows the centre-right Tisza party gaining steady support among voters, while Fidesz, which has ruled Hungary since 2010, remains behind in this survey. This is the second poll in the same week to place Tisza in the lead, although government-friendly pollsters continue to show Fidesz ahead.

According to the survey, Tisza has 35 percent support among all voters, up slightly from December. Fidesz stands at 28 percent, also showing a small increase but still trailing its main rival. Among voters who have already decided how they will vote, Tisza’s lead is even stronger, with 53 percent backing the party compared to 37 percent for Fidesz.

The results highlight the toughest political challenge Viktor Orban has faced in more than a decade. While his party has won every election since 2010, public frustration over economic issues, corruption concerns, and relations with the European Union appear to be influencing voter sentiment. Still, the outcome of the election remains uncertain, as a large number of voters have not yet made up their minds.

The poll also shows that the far-right Our Homeland party, known locally as Mi Hazank, is on track to cross the five percent threshold needed to enter parliament. If this happens, it would make Our Homeland the only other party, besides Tisza and Fidesz, to gain seats in the legislature. This development could complicate coalition politics and influence future policy debates.

Another survey published a day earlier by the Publicus Institute showed similar trends. That poll found Tisza leading among decided voters, with Fidesz close behind and Our Homeland also clearing the parliamentary threshold. It also revealed that more than a quarter of voters remain undecided, though this number has fallen compared to previous months.

Tisza is led by Peter Magyar, a former government insider who has positioned himself as a reformist alternative to Orban. Magyar has promised to fight corruption, restore trust with European partners, and unlock billions of euros in frozen EU funds that Hungary needs to support its economy. He has also pledged to firmly keep Hungary aligned with the European Union and NATO.

As the election approaches, these polls suggest Hungary is entering a highly competitive and unpredictable political period. With shifting voter loyalties and new parties gaining ground, the April vote could mark a turning point in the country’s modern political history.