Media: Record overseas voting could sway Hungary’s parliamentary elections

Hungary is heading into parliamentary elections on April 12 with a record number of overseas voters, a factor that media reports suggest could play a decisive role in shaping the outcome.

According to RMF24, approximately 91,000 voters are expected to cast ballots from abroad, a sharp increase compared with 65,480 in the previous elections. The surge in participation among emigrants has drawn attention due to their historically more critical stance toward the incumbent government.

In recent elections, overseas voters have shown significantly lower support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party. During the 2024 European Parliament elections, Fidesz secured less than 19% of the vote outside Hungary.

Media reports indicate that the opposition TISZA party, led by Peter Magyar, has emerged as a “natural choice” for many of these voters, particularly among younger, urban, and highly mobile demographics that make up a substantial portion of the expatriate electorate.

The large volume of ballots cast abroad is also expected to delay the final tally. While preliminary results could be released on the night of April 12, officials may not confirm the final outcome until April 18, once all overseas votes have been counted.

Polling data suggests a lead for the opposition heading into the vote. In March, the Median polling company recorded 58% support for TISZA among decided voters, compared with 35% for Fidesz. Similarly, figures from the 21 Research Centre showed TISZA at 56% and Fidesz at 37%.

By Tamilla Hasanova