Finance
Hungary's opposition tisza party maintains lead as election nears, poll shows
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 11, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 11, 2026
Quick Summary
A Reuters‑published poll on March 11 shows Hungary’s opposition Tisza Party maintaining a robust 14‑point lead over Fidesz among decided voters, as campaigns ramp up ahead of the April 12 election.
Hungary's Tisza Party Keeps Narrow Lead in Election Poll Ahead of Vote
Election Polls and Political Landscape in Hungary
Overview of the Latest Poll Results
BUDAPEST, March 11 (Reuters) - The main Hungarian opposition party Tisza's lead over long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz shrank slightly in a poll published on Wednesday, as campaigning enters its final month before an April 12 election.
Challenges Facing Viktor Orban
Nationalist Orban faces the biggest challenge to his rule in 16 years, although the outcome of the vote - coming against the backdrop of the Ukraine-Russia war and building economic challenges - remains highly uncertain, with opinion polls showing that many voters are still undecided.
Details from the 21 Research Centre Poll
A poll by 21 Research Centre (21 Kutatokozpont), conducted between March 2 and 6 and released on Wednesday, showed Tisza leads by 14 percentage points ahead of Fidesz among decided voters, down from a 16-point lead in the agency's last poll in January.
Party Support Among Decided and All Voters
Centre-right Tisza, led by former government insider Peter Magyar, had the support of 53% of decided voters, unchanged from January, according to 21 Research Centre, while 39% backed Fidesz, up from 37% in the previous poll.
The poll, published by news site 24.hu, showed 38% support for Tisza among all voters, with Fidesz backed by 30%.
Projected Parliamentary Seats
Based on the poll, Tisza could win 115 seats in Hungary's 199-seat parliament, and Fidesz could expect 78 seats. The far-right Our Homeland (Mi Hazank) party would be the only other party crossing the 5% threshold to win seats.
Key Issues and Party Positions
Tisza Party's Promises
Magyar has said his party would curb corruption, unlock billions of euros in frozen European Union funds to boost the economy, and firmly anchor Hungary in the EU and NATO.
Fidesz's Response and Criticism
Fidesz has pointed to other surveys that still show it on course to victory, though opponents - who criticise Orban for harming the rule of law and keeping warm ties with Russia - say these have mainly been conducted by institutes with financial or personal ties to the ruling party.
(Reporting by Anita Komuves; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Key Takeaways
- •Tisza leads by 14 points among decided voters, though the margin narrowed from 16 points in January per 21 Research Centre (euronews.com).
- •Across all voters, Tisza holds 38% support versus Fidesz’s 30%, with seat projections favoring Tisza (115 vs 78 seats) and only the far‑right Our Homeland entering parliament (euronews.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Hungary's opposition Tisza party maintains lead as election nears, poll shows
1Who leads the Tisza party and what are their main campaign promises?
Tisza is led by Peter Magyar, who pledges to curb corruption, unlock frozen EU funds, and firmly anchor Hungary in the EU and NATO.
2How many seats could Tisza and Fidesz win in Hungary's parliament based on recent polls?
Poll projections indicate Tisza could win 115 seats and Fidesz 78 seats in Hungary's 199-seat parliament.
