The election in Hungary

The world's eyes are on Hungary: "Our only chance"

Both Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and challenger Péter Magyar are in the final stages of tomorrow's Hungarian election. Several media outlets are therefore trying to capture the mood of the voters.

Tens of thousands gathered on Friday evening in Heroes' Square in Budapest to show their support for Tisza leader Magyar, who they hope will break Orbán's long-standing grip on power.

"I don't think I would vote for Magyar in an ideal situation, but this is our only chance," Fanni told the BBC.

Just under an hour's drive from the square, in Orbán's hometown of Székesfehérvár, which has been a given for his Fidesz party since 1998, the tone is actually similar.

"It's not about enthusiasm for Tisza, but about having had enough of Fidesz," café owner Peter told Bloomberg.

Orbán's anti-EU stance can be found in the city, however. Among others, in the pensioner Agota, who says that the West does not understand the Hungarians' fear of being dragged into the Ukraine war. 

Zebras at father Orbán's house a strong symbol

In the wake of Sunday's election, many in Hungary's increasingly impoverished population are recalling the drone footage published by the newspaper Telex last summer, which shows the enormous opulence that those living in the vicinity of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán live in. The Guaridan writes.

The footage showed Orbán's father Orbán Gyozo's enormous property with well-trimmed hedges, swimming pools and underground garages next to the gigantic luxury homes. The footage also shows that neighbor Lorinc Mészáros – Hungary's richest man and the prime minister's best friend – has zebras at his house.

The zebras have since become a symbol of Hungarian corruption and the elite's enormous opulence, says independent MP Ákos Hadházy.

Opposition leader Péter Magyar has seized on the Hungarians' anger and is running to give ordinary Hungarians, rather than the power elite, a better life. Orbán claims that Magyar wants to tear down his Christian, nationalist society and bring Hungary closer to the EU, and thus into the war in neighboring Ukraine. 

Trump: Will lift Hungary's economy if Orbán wins

Donald Trump promises to lift Hungary's economy if incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wins the election on Sunday, he writes in a post on Truth Social.

"My administration is ready to use the full economic power of the United States to strengthen Hungary's economy, as we have done for our great allies before, if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian people ever need it," he writes.

Trump also writes that the United States wants to invest in "the successes that will be generated by Orbán's continued leadership."

This is not the first time Trump has expressed his support for Orbán, who has been in power in Hungary for 16 years. Among other things, he went out earlier in the day and urged Hungarians literally – and in capital letters – to vote for Orbán.

The Hungarian election — it’s about the issue

• Hungary goes to the polls on April 12, with the opposition Tisza party under Péter Magyar leading in opinion polls over Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz.
• The election campaign has been marked by allegations of Russian influence, leaks from EU meetings to the Kremlin and alleged attempts at election manipulation.
• US Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump have publicly supported Orbán, while EU countries and France have expressed concern about Hungary’s actions towards Russia.
• An attempted sabotage of a gas pipeline near the Hungarian border has led to mutual accusations between Hungary, Russia, Ukraine and Serbia about responsibility and election influence.
• The OSCE is monitoring the election with international observers, and several analyses indicate that the outcome could have a major impact on the EU’s future decision-making processes.