Overview
- Tens of thousands turned out for parallel marches on the March 15 national day, with crowd size contested between a government-linked estimate favoring Orbán and Tisza’s far higher figure.
- Orbán cast the election as a choice about war and sovereignty, attacked Ukraine and Brussels, and said a declassified security report would prove illegal opposition financing from Kyiv, a claim Tisza rejects.
- Relations with Ukraine have further deteriorated after Hungary detained and expelled Ukrainian bank employees and seized cash and gold, amid a dispute over stalled Russian oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline.
- Investigations by VSquare and the Financial Times reported a covert Russian social media push benefiting Orbán, as Magyar accused the government of inviting Russian agents and warned supporters about disinformation.
- Independent polling shows Tisza leading — including a Medián survey with a large advantage among decided voters — as Magyar centers his campaign on inflation, corruption and reanchoring Hungary in the EU and NATO.