Hungary’s parliamentary elections commenced on Sunday, April 12, with voter turnout reaching unprecedented levels by midday. As of 1 PM, participation was recorded at 54.14%, translating to approximately 4,075,272 votes, a notable increase from the 37.98% reported at 11 AM.
According to Telex, this turnout figure at 1 PM already surpassed the 52.8% turnout recorded at the same time during the 2022 elections.
RBC-Ukraine’s correspondent reported that the highest voter influx occurred early in the day, with fewer individuals at polling stations later on. Currently, there are virtually no queues for voting.
The data indicates that the turnout is particularly high in districts supporting the “Tisza” party led by Peter Madjar, a rival of the incumbent Prime Minister and leader of the Fidesz party, Viktor Orbán.
As of 1 PM, the highest participation rates were noted in the 5th, 2nd, and 15th electoral districts of Pest County. In the 5th district, which includes the towns of Dunakeszi and Göd, the turnout at the same time in 2022 was 43.81%. However, the current figure remains unspecified.
In the 2nd district, centered around the town of Budaörs, voters have shown a turnout of 61.16%, significantly higher than the 44.09% recorded four years ago. Candidates from Fidesz include Gergely Csucor, while the Tisza party is represented by the party’s operations director, Gábor Pócsfai.
Additionally, in the 15th district of Budapest, where Fidesz nominated Mónika Dunai and Tisza nominated Áron Porcher, the turnout has already exceeded 60%, compared to 42.25% at the same time in 2022.
In the lead-up to these elections, media reports indicated that Russia had launched a significant disinformation campaign aimed at bolstering Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s position while undermining the opposition. Russian media suggested that the Kremlin anticipates a potential defeat for Fidesz and is preparing to blame the Hungarian team for any electoral failure.
Moreover, U.S. Vice President Jay D. Vance recently visited Hungary to support Orbán. During a rally, he called former U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed his admiration for Orbán. Shortly thereafter, Trump made a post promising economic prosperity for Hungary if Orbán remains in power.
Hungary's parliamentary elections on April 12 witnessed record voter turnout, surpassing previous years' participation rates. Amidst a backdrop of disinformation campaigns and international political support, the elections reflect significant public engagement.