Hungary: Snapshots from polling station 49 in Budapest: turnout is at an all-time high
On the outskirts of the capital, those voting for Tisza are optimistic. But to secure a certain victory, Magyar must build up a lead of at least 5 points over Orban
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT – On Via Ifjumunkas, in Budapest, the primary school named after the Hungarian writer Dezső Kosztolányi is today home to polling stations 49 and 48. Here, the splendid Art Nouveau buildings of the city centre give way to the more nondescript tower blocks of the suburbs, but we are still just a stone’s throw from the MVM Dome, the sports arena where, last Tuesday, the US Vice-President JD Vance held his rally alongside his ‘friend’ Viktor Orbán, to campaign for his re-election.
At nine o’clock in the morning, the hustle and bustle of voters on Via Ifjumunkas is brisk, helped by the sunny morning. According to figures from the Hungarian National Electoral Office, by 11 am voter turnout had already reached an all-time high: for the contest between Viktor Orban and Peter Magyar, 37.98 per cent of voters have already cast their ballots. In the previous parliamentary elections in 2022, at the same time, the turnout stood at 25.77 per cent. And high turnout, as the experts’ mantra goes, gives Tisza’s challengers a boost.
István Pintye is 47 years old and is standing at polling station 48 as a list candidate for Peter Magyar’s movement. István is one of the founding activists of the Tisza Islands, the grassroots cells of the movement set up on Facebook to support the candidacy of Orbán’s rival: “I’m optimistic,” he says. “This is a neighbourhood that supports Tisza. I joined the movement because I no longer want to live in a country where, to obtain a licence or certain services, you have to be a member of Fidesz, the Prime Minister’s party.”
Outside the polling station, the younger voters are happy to speak out; they’re not afraid to say they’ve voted for Magyar because they want change, and they’re confident that Gen Z will turn out in droves. It’s easy to tell who, as they leave the polling station, has just voted for Orbán: they’re the ones who prefer to say nothing and just carry on. Even the Fidesz list representatives are keeping their lips sealed.
Given with the polls still showing challenger Magyar leading by more than 12–13 points, not even at Orbán’s headquarters do they feel confident of turning the tables.
