Parliamentary elections have concluded in Hungary, with preliminary data indicating voter turnout reached 77.8%, the highest level recorded in recent years, News.Az reports, citing Reuters.

Voters cast ballots to elect a new National Assembly, the country’s unicameral legislature, which consists of 199 members. The outcome of the election will determine who becomes the next prime minister. The post is currently held by Viktor Orbán.

Initial preliminary results are expected to be announced at around 20:00 local time, with updates to follow every 10 minutes on the website of the National Election Office.

More than eight million Hungarian citizens, including those living abroad, were eligible to vote. Officials say the high turnout reflects strong public engagement in what is seen as a pivotal election.

In the 2022 election, the ruling alliance of Fidesz and the Christian Democratic People’s Party secured just over half of the party-list vote, but won around two-thirds of parliamentary seats thanks to strong results in single-member constituencies. Orbán, who previously served as prime minister from 1998 to 2002, returned to office in 2010 and is currently serving his fourth consecutive term. A victory for Fidesz would allow him to become head of government for a sixth time.

Opinion polls ahead of the vote suggested a possible victory for the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, a former member of Fidesz. According to polling data published on April 11, the opposition maintained a lead of nearly nine percentage points, although the gap had narrowed compared with March.

Hungary’s opposition Tisza party could win the parliamentary election, according to the final opinion polls released after voting stations closed, as News.Az reports, citing Reuters.

A Median poll projected Tisza would secure 135 seats in the 199-member parliament, with the party receiving 57% support. Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s nationalist Fidesz party was shown trailing behind.

At the same time, a poll by the 21 Research Centre put Tisza at 55% of the vote and projected it would win 132 seats.

The two surveys were the last conducted before voting began and were published only after polling stations closed. While Hungary does not allow exit polls, similar last-minute surveys released after voting has ended have in previous elections proven to be relatively accurate.

News.Az