Hungarians began voting on Sunday in a closely watched parliamentary election that could end Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s 16-year hold on power.
Opinion polls show the opposition Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, ahead of Orban’s Fidesz, setting up a tight contest being closely monitored across Europe and beyond.
“Now is our last chance to choose finally east or west. Do we want to be a normal democracy or turn back east with no point of return?” first-time voter David Banhegyi said after casting his ballot.
Orban, 62, is seeking a fifth straight term and has positioned himself against migration and “woke” values, while maintaining ties with Russia. His campaign has focused heavily on Ukraine, portraying it as hostile to Hungary.
Magyar, 45, has promised a “system change”, vowing to tackle corruption and strengthen Hungary’s position within the European Union.
“I have one main problem with this government, what it did, the robbing,” voter Edit Csillaghegyi said.
But another voter, Maria Toth, backed the incumbent, saying, “It is so important for us that Viktor Orban stays in power.”
Analysts predict a high turnout, with results expected after polls close later Sunday.
