As of 11:00 a.m., 37.98% of voters had turned out to vote in Hungary. The outgoing president and the opposition leader were at the polling stations.
Voter turnout in Hungary is at an all-time high. According to data released by the National Election Office, by 11:00 a.m., 37.98% of voters, or 2 million 858 thousand 892, had already cast their ballots in the race between Viktor Orban and Peter Magyar. This is a record figure, much higher than the 25.77% recorded four years ago. The trend was already visible in the early hours of the morning: by 9:00 a.m., turnout had reached almost 17%, compared to 10.31% in 2022. In 2022, the final turnout was 69.59%, Ansa writes, KosovaPress reports.
This year, forecasts indicate the possibility of significantly exceeding the 70% threshold.
A mayor from Orban's party votes for Hungary, 'I choose EU values'.
A Fidesz mayor in Hungary has publicly declared that he voted for the opposition led by Peter Magyar. Mihaly Szoke-Toth, mayor of Bocsa, a small town in southern Hungary, urged voters to participate in the vote in a Facebook message, distancing himself from his party led by Viktor Orban. “I vote against Russian influence and for European values. I support a community that wants to build and represents hope for the nation,” he said. Szoke-Toth, according to Hungarian media reports, was elected mayor in 2024 with 71.15% of the vote (587 votes).
Hungarians vote in Budapest: “We will win; the challenge is an absolute majority.”
Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar cast his vote at the Hegyvideki Mesevar garden polling station in Budapest’s 12th district. “Our party will win; the only question is whether it will be with a simple majority or an absolute majority,” he told the press after casting his vote. “We must strengthen Hungary’s position in the EU and NATO,” he added, reiterating the need to “unblock EU funds” frozen due to the dispute between Brussels and Viktor Orban over the rule of law. If he wins, he reiterated, “the priority will be the adoption of anti-corruption measures.”
Orban votes: “I am here to win; the people's choice must be respected.”
“Will this be my last election? I am young, it is not my last election. I am here to win.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told the press shortly after casting his vote in Budapest. “The people’s decision must be respected,” he stressed in response to questions from reporters. Asked if he would congratulate his rival, Peter Magyar, if he lost, he replied: “Congratulate me? I always do. There are civilized rules.”
"We are committed to maintaining friendly relations with the leaders of all major states," he then answered journalists' questions about his relationship with Vladimir Putin. Asked what he would do in Volodymyr Zelensky's place, specifically the possibility of giving up territory, he replied: "I am quite lucky that I am not Zelensky," Ansa writes.
Orban cast his vote at the Zugliget Elementary School polling station in Budapest’s 12th district, arriving with his wife, Aniko Levai. The prime minister expressed his satisfaction with the expected high turnout, noting that strong turnout has historically favored his party: “The more people who vote, the better,” he said, urging all citizens to go to the polls.
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