DEBRECEN, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s top political leaders conducted their closing campaign events Saturday as a contentious election season culminates with Sunday’s voting.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán confronts the most significant challenge of his political tenure as opponent Péter Magyar’s center-right Tisza party has experienced rapid growth and holds commanding leads in multiple independent surveys.
A Tisza victory would conclude Orbán’s 16-year dominance of Hungarian politics.
However, political analysts anticipate the outcome may be tighter than polling suggests, believing Orbán’s Fidesz party could effectively rally its substantial rural voter base.
Magyar, a 45-year-old attorney and former Fidesz insider, has campaigned extensively across Hungary over two years, making stops in hundreds of communities while attempting to attract Orbán’s countryside supporters.
The challenger addressed thousands of supporters Saturday at University Square in Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city and a traditional Fidesz stronghold.
Speaking with confidence, Magyar declared the election would “enter Hungarian history books as the day of resurrection, the renewal of the Hungarian nation, and of the real change of regime.”
Magyar also reached out to Orbán supporters, promising his movement would pursue “reunification” of Hungary following the election in what he termed “national reconciliation.”
“As the winner of the election, we will have to extend a hand to our fellow countrymen,” he said.
Orbán, concluding his campaign at Budapest’s prestigious Castle Hill, has focused his message on warning about various external threats he claims endanger Hungarians — especially the conflict in nearby Ukraine.
The incumbent reinforced this theme, declaring to thousands of attendees that “we are in an age of danger.”
“Hungary is facing serious challenges,” he said. “We need to say no to major power groups in the world in order to defend ourselves, and this requires knowledge, experience and routine.”
He continued: “Now is not the time to take risks, to change, to renew and to adventure. Now we need to protect and secure what we have.”
Orbán’s campaign has struggled with Hungary’s weak economic conditions, exposures of the administration’s deepening Russian connections, and accusations of misconduct.
The prime minister has attempted to strengthen voter support by highlighting his friendship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has consistently backed the Hungarian leader. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Budapest this week promoting Orbán’s reelection, even participating in a government-funded campaign event with the prime minister.
In contrast, Magyar has centered his campaign on concerns affecting everyday Hungarians including rising prices, living expenses, and declining public healthcare and transit systems.
He has also spoken passionately about what he characterizes as widespread government corruption benefiting a small circle of political insiders — allegations Orbán rejects — and pledged to reverse the prime minister’s movement away from the European Union toward stronger Moscow relationships.
As supporters displayed national flags and shouted “Európa! Európa!” at University Square, Magyar stated that “many millions” of voters would demonstrate Sunday that “Hungary’s place was, is, and will be in Europe.”
Magyar previously visited multiple smaller eastern Hungarian communities including Balmazújváros, a municipality with approximately 17,000 residents.
Local Tisza organizer and farmer Annamária Matkovics explained she joined Magyar’s movement when it formed in 2024. Though her area has traditionally supported Fidesz, Matkovics, 50, believes Tisza has empowered people to voice opposition despite potential repercussions.
“When we’re campaigning on the street, people tell us that they’re worried that they’ll lose their jobs if they don’t vote for Fidesz, and they’re still planning to vote for Tisza,” she said. “They’ve had enough of the division.”
