Elections in Hungary: Record Number of Voters Abroad Set to Cast Ballots

A record number of Hungarian citizens living abroad are set to participate in the parliamentary elections on April 12, which may significantly bolster the opposition's chances of winning. This information was reported by 444.hu and Hungary Daily News, as noted by 'European Truth'. On Thursday, April 2, the registration period for voters abroad to participate in the elections came to a close. It was revealed that this time, over 90,000 votes are expected to be cast at foreign polling stations, which is nearly one and a half times more than the previous elections held four years ago.

Previous elections have shown that the Hungarian diaspora tends to vote more frequently for the opposition than voters within the country. For instance, during the European Parliament elections, the ruling party 'Fidesz' garnered less than 19% of the votes from this group. Another notable aspect of this election cycle is the record number of applications for voting outside of registered polling places: 227,000 voters have applied, compared to approximately 157,000 in 2022.

Both of these 'records' suggest that the final election results may be known much later than the night of April 12-13. According to electoral legislation, votes cast abroad, as well as those cast at polling places other than the voter's registered location, are not counted on the same day. The latter are transported to the constituency where the voter is registered and must be counted no later than six days after the official election date. Consequently, the final results in constituencies with particularly close races may not be determined until April 18.

It is worth noting that a recent poll released last week indicated a 23-point lead for the opposition party 'Tisza' over 'Fidesz' among voters who have made up their minds. Meanwhile, a pro-government analytical center predicts a solid advantage for the ruling party in the majoritarian constituencies.

The delegation of observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed concerns regarding the atmosphere leading up to the elections in Hungary, particularly in relation to anti-Ukrainian propaganda. Several dozen members of the European Parliament have called on the OSCE to remove a former translator for the Russian ruler from the election observation mission in Hungary.

As the election date approaches, many events over the past week have improved the opposition's chances against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is facing potential defeat. The unfolding narrative of 'betrayal', repression, and financial ties to Russia has dramatically transformed the political landscape in Hungary.

For more updates on the evolving situation and to understand the implications of these elections, subscribe to 'European Truth'. If you notice any errors in this report, please highlight the necessary text and press Ctrl + Enter to inform the editorial team.