Watch: Orbán vs Magyar — where do Hungary's rivals really stand on Europe?

Published on 09/04/2026 - 11:59 GMT+2

On 1 broadside sits Premier Viktor Orbán and his ruling Fidesz party, aligned with the blimpish Patriots for Europe group.

On the different broadside sits his challenger Péter Magyar and his Tisza party, embraced by the mainstream centre-right European People's Party.

If they shared a formation to Belgium, their views connected Brussels could not beryllium much different.

Orbán fights EU power to support nationalist sovereignty. Magyar wants to repair the narration but avoids appearing to instrumentality orders from the EU, deliberately keeping his region from leaders similar European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

And erstwhile they prime up the phone, who is connected the different end? Orbán maintains choky ties with the Kremlin. His overseas curate was adjacent caught briefing Moscow astir cardinal EU meetings. Magyar condemned this, accusing the authorities of acting connected Russian President Vladimir Putin's behalf.

Looking adjacent doorway to Ukraine, they disagree successful mentation but stock a governmental calculation. Orbán regularly blocks EU support, campaigning connected the fearfulness of war. Magyar avoids speaking astir Ukraine, and his enactment opposes Kyiv's fast-track EU membership. But determination is simply a idiosyncratic difference. In the past, Magyar personally delivered assistance to a Russian-bombed children's infirmary successful Kyiv.

Finally, looking crossed the Atlantic, Orbán relies connected his adjacent relationship with US President Donald Trump, adjacent hosting US Vice President JD Vance this week.

Magyar, meanwhile, rejects this benignant of personality-driven diplomacy, promising to basal retired Russian power and reconstruct Hungary arsenic a reliable NATO ally.

So arsenic you tin see, each of that paints a precise intriguing governmental picture. However, let’s not hide that successful these elections, the Hungarian absorption person faces an unequal playing field.

After 16 years successful power, Fidesz maintains a grip implicit the authorities and nationalist money, utilizing redrawn voting districts and supportive media to summation an advantage.

And with Hungarian societal media flooded with deepfakes targeting the Magyar and Tisza parties, Sunday’s ballot volition determine whether the facts oregon the fakes signifier Hungary's future.

Watch the Euronews video successful the subordinate supra for the afloat story.