Director of the Kyiv-based Institute of World Politics Yevhen Magda believes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could deliver an upset victory in the high-stakes parliamentary election scheduled for 12 April.
Speaking in a recently uploaded video on YouTube, the political scientist highlighted that although he does not sympathize with Orbán, the prime minister’s campaign is ‘going well’ and is ‘on schedule’. Magda noted that Orbán is supported by three of the world’s most influential centres—Washington, Moscow, and Beijing—which have given Hungary an opportunity to become ‘more independent’ from Brussels in recent years. These developments are good for Hungarian interests, he added.
Earlier this week, US Vice President JD Vance visited Hungary, marking the highest-ranking American official to do so in more than 20 years. During his visit, Vance praised Orbán’s leadership, calling relations between the two countries a ‘civilizational alliance’ and endorsing the prime minister for re-election. Yesterday, President Donald Trump posted a lengthy endorsement message directed at Orbán on his Truth Social page, calling on Hungarians to ‘get out and vote’ for him on Sunday.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump gives FULL ENDORSEMENT to right-wing Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, election day is APRIL 12
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 9, 2026
"Stop Illegal Immigration, and Ensure LAW AND ORDER! Relations between Hungary and the United States have reached new heights of cooperation and spectacular… pic.twitter.com/qqrYvwBc6G
Hungary is preparing for what many describe as the most important election in the country’s post-communist history this weekend. Orbán is facing his first real challenger in more than a decade in Péter Magyar, a former insider within the governing party Fidesz’s circles. Pollsters show highly contradicting predictions depending on their alignment, with some placing Magyar and the Tisza Party more than 20 points ahead of Orbán, potentially pointing towards a supermajority.
‘No one can be sure of the outcome, and Péter Magyar’s victory should not be taken for granted,’ Magda said. ‘That’s why I say that despite all the dislike for him, Orbán is still a good political strategist,’ he added, noting that Fidesz’s campaign has led many to question Péter Magyar’s suitability to become a successful and independent leader.
‘Péter Magyar’s victory should not be taken for granted’
‘Those who say that Péter Magyar will definitely win on 12 April, I would still ask you not to trust them,’ Magda stressed.
Tibor Fischer, a British writer and novelist of Hungarian origin, came to a similar conclusion in his recently published column in The Telegraph. While noting that the election could bring an end to Orbán’s 16-year tenure as prime minister, as ‘Hungary is a democracy’, he dismissed polling data suggesting an overwhelmingly large lead for the opposition. Fischer argued that those who label Orbán authoritarian ignore ‘anything actually going on on the ground in Hungary’.
Reflecting on Orbán’s long political career, Fischer added that even in defeat, he would remain the ‘GOAT’. ‘16 years in office means you’ve probably done something to annoy or disappoint many voters,’ he said, adding that his detractors ‘obstinately insist, flat-earther style, that his success is down to foul play’.
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