Polls close in Hungary election after 16 years under Viktor Orbán
The Independent 1.24M subscribers Apr 12, 2026 Polls have closed in Hungary’s high-stakes election that sees nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán face down the strongest opposition leader of his 16-year tenure. Hungary’s record-breaking parliamentary election on Sunday, 12 April, has had the highest voter turnout in the country’s post-Communist history. Almost 78 per cent of eligible voters took part in the election according to the National Election Office. Opinion polls suggest that Orbán and his nationalist Fidesz party will lose power to the centre-right pro-European Union Tisza party, led by former party loyalist Peter Magyar. The results should become clear by late Sunday evening. Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent Find us on social: TikTok / ...