Hungary opened polling stations on Sunday in what is widely regarded as the most consequential election in decades, with veteran Prime Minister Viktor Orbán facing a serious challenge from opposition leader Péter Magyar after a campaign marked by political tension, allegations of foreign influence and deep national division.

Voting began at 6 a.m. across the country as millions of citizens headed to the polls in a contest many analysts describe as a referendum on Orbán’s 16-year rule. The prime minister, who has governed with a parliamentary supermajority since 2010, is confronting his most unified and competitive opposition to date.

Magyar, a former government insider who broke away in 2024 following a political scandal linked to a presidential pardon case, has rapidly emerged as Orbán’s primary challenger. His newly formed Tisza Party secured around 30% of the vote in last year’s European Parliament elections and has since expanded its support base, particularly in smaller towns and rural regions.

Political analysts say the election marks a break from previous contests in which opposition parties were fragmented. With Magyar consolidating anti-government support, surveys suggest a much tighter race than in previous cycles. Some polling data even projects a potential parliamentary majority shift, although figures from Orbán’s governing camp dispute these estimates and argue their support base is undercounted.

Orbán remains one of Europe’s most influential and polarising leaders. Rising to prominence after the end of communism in 1989, he returned to power in 2010 and has since reshaped Hungary’s constitutional and media framework. On the European stage, he has frequently clashed with EU institutions over migration policy, judicial reforms and Hungary’s close relationship with Russia.

The campaign has also been shaped by foreign policy divisions. Orbán has taken a hardline stance against Ukraine’s EU accession and has maintained ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, positioning his platform around what he calls “national sovereignty” and “patriotic politics.”

Magyar, by contrast, has pledged to restore closer ties with the European Union and NATO, aligning his movement with the European People’s Party. His supporters include several senior European political figures, though no formal foreign endorsements have been made.

The election has drawn attention across Europe, the United States and Russia, with observers viewing the outcome as significant for both EU unity and broader geopolitical alignment. Allegations of intimidation, leaked recordings and claims of attempted foreign interference have further intensified the campaign atmosphere.

Polling stations are set to close at 7 p.m., with Hungary’s mixed electoral system allocating 199 parliamentary seats through both constituency and party-list votes. Early results are expected later in the evening, with official outcomes due around midnight.