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2nd April, 2026
Tisza poll lead hits new levels
A new poll indicates that the Tisza party’s lead over Fidesz in popularity has reached its widest level to date, with 56% of decided voters opting for the upstart party, as against 37% for the incumbent.
One month earlier, a survey by the same pollsters, the 21 Research Centre, showed Tisza with a 17-point lead, at 54-31%.
Among the total population, the gap is 12%, suggesting Tisza may have around 900,000 more supporters than Fidesz.
Support for smaller parties remains largely unchanged. Our Homeland is near the 5% parliamentary threshold, while both the Democratic Coalition and the Two-Tailed Dog Party stand at around 1%.
The survey was conducted during March 23-28 using a hybrid method with 1,500 respondents, representative of the adult population. The margin of error is 2.5%. (telex.hu; hvg.hu; 24.hu; nepszava.hu; 444.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Nezopont maps out results by constituency
The Fidesz-affialisted Nezopont Institute has detailed its latest constituency-level projections, identifying where Hungary’s main parties are expected to win, and highlighting the sole district where neither is favoured.
According to the analysis led by Agoston Samuel Mraz, Fidesz could win 66 of the 106 individual constituencies, while the Tisza Party is projected to win 39.
The exception is in Budapest’s 14th District, where independent MP Akos Hadhazy is seen as the most likely winner.
The projections suggest that Fidesz may fail to win any seats in Budapest, while Tisza could perform strongly in urban areas and in Pest county, where it is expected to win eight of fourteen seats.
By contrast, Fidesz is projected to dominate rural regions, potentially sweeping entire counties, such as Bekes, Heves, Vas, Nograd, Tolna, and Zala. (hvg.hu; 24.hu; telex.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Top court sides with state media in Facebook bias dispute
A legal dispute over alleged pro-government bias on public media’s Facebook page has ended in favour of the broadcaster, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
The case began when the Tisza Party argued that public media disproportionately promoted Fidesz campaign events, violating rules on balanced election coverage.
They asked the National Election Commission to establish wrongdoing and impose a fine.
Public media operators MTVA and Duna Musorszolgaltato defended themselves by claiming that their Facebook page is not a media service, but merely a social platform for sharing content.
The election commission accepted this argument.
The Supreme Court initially disagreed, finding a “glaring disproportion” in coverage and banning further violations, though it stopped short of issuing a fine, due to the absence of a legal precedent.
The Constitutional Court overturned this decision, ruling that a Facebook page is not a media outlet and is therefore not subject to election law requirements such as equal opportunity.
Subsequent reviews upheld this position.
In the latest ruling, passed by a narrow 3-2 majority, the Constitutional Court rejected arguments about protecting democratic public opinion, stating they lacked a clear legal basis.
A dissenting opinion, however, emphasised that publicly funded communication channels have a heightened responsibility during election campaigns. (444.hu; hvg.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Euronews journalist raises concerns over editorial independence
An internal dispute has emerged at Euronews after a politically sensitive article unfavourable to Fidesz was removed from its Hungarian-language site, according to Euractiv.
The issue came to light through a leaked memo by senior journalist Gabor Tanacs, who argued that the deletion represented a breach of editorial independence.
He warned that such interference resembled practices seen in government-influenced media and called for transparency and accountability over the decision.
The article, published then removed shortly thereafter on March 27, reported on a pre-election plunge in the share prices of companies linked to the government.
The article is no longer accessible, even in archived form.
According to Tanacs, the removal was requested by management representing the interests of the outlet’s owner.
Concerns about editorial independence have persisted since 2021, when Alpac Capital acquired a stake in Euronews.
Reporting by Direkt36 later revealed that a Hungarian state-linked fund contributed to financing the purchase.
The case is further complicated by ties between the fund and 4iG, a major player in Hungary’s media landscape.
In response, Hungarian editor-in-chief Attila Kert acknowledged the memo but denied that there had been any external pressure.
He said the article was removed due to a professional oversight, as it failed to disclose that Euronews’s owner had a stake in one of the companies mentioned.
Kert maintained that the newsroom remains fully independent. (telex.hu; hvg.hu; 444.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Budapest removes election posters from bridges
City-owned road and bridge maintenance company Budapest Kozut announced on Wednesday that it has begun removing election posters placed on the structural elements of bridges in the city.
According to the statement, posters attached to key bridge components, such as support cables, pylons, railings, or deck structures, violate regulations and will be taken down without prior notice.
The company emphasised that no foreign objects may be placed on bridge structures, citing safety and maintenance concerns. It has therefore asked all political parties and campaign organisations to refrain from using these areas for advertising.
At the same time, authorities clarified that posters may still be placed on streetlight poles located on bridges, but only with prior co-ordination.
In such cases, campaign actors must contact Budapest Kozut for permission. (telex.hu; 444.hu; nepszava.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Szijjarto associate lands big contract at Debrecen plant
A company linked to a former associate of Peter Szijjarto has secured significant business from the construction of the CATL EV battery factory in Debrecen, according to Direkt36.
Based on company data, Szilard Benko, who previously maintained close ties with Szijjarto, owns a majority stake in Verbau, which has carried out construction work worth Ft 6.7 billion as a subcontractor on the project.
The work includes industrial gates, ramps, and flooring, under contracts signed in 2023 with substantial completion reached in 2024.
Benko and Szijjarto reportedly shared a personal relationship in the past, including playing futsal together.
Benko was also involved in campaign activities supporting Fidesz and was photographed with Szijjarto on a yacht in 2020.
That same year, one of his companies received a Ft 300 million state grant linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Although Verbau is involved in the Debrecen investment, both the Hungarian subsidiary of CATL and the state-linked industrial park said they have no direct contractual relationship with Verbau, as it operates as a subcontractor rather than a primary contractor. (hvg.hu; telex.hu; 24.hu; nepszava.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
2025 budget deficit near 5% of GDP
The government sector deficit was Ft 4.059 trillion, or 4.7% of GDP last year, the Central Statistics Office announced as it released its preliminary figures on Wednesday.
The central government deficit came to Ft 4.174 trillion, while local governments and social security funds recorded surpluses of Ft 49 billion and Ft 66 billion, respectively.
The government sector’s revenue for the year came to Ft 37.082 trillion, and its expenditure Ft 41.141 trillion.
The MNB reports that the state debt stood at Ft 64.912 trillion, or 74.6% of GDP, at the end of the year. (ksh.hu; portfolio.hu; novekedes.hu; economx.hu; telex.hu; index.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Housing market rebounds, demand falls in March
The housing market saw 11,554 transactions in March, up 32% month-on-month, according to estimates by Duna House.
Activity was just 5.3% below the strong levels recorded a year earlier: turnover in 2025 was higher only in March and September.
The rebound may prove short-lived as data from property agencies zenga.hu and ingatlan.com show a decline in phone and online enquiries, pointing to softer demand.
According to Credipass, the credit brokerage arm of Duna House, new housing loan contracts totalled Ft 240 billion in March, down just 2.2% from February but more than 74% higher than MNB data a year earlier. (portfolio.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Economic doubts hurt housing sales
More than 270,000 telephone inquiries were made for homes for sale in March, a 13.9% decline year-on-year, according to property agency ingatlan.com.
Workday-adjusted data show a 9% decline in demand compared to the previous month.
According to analyst Laszlo Balogh of ingatlan.com, the housing market was characterized by a wait-and-see attitude in March.
The approaching elections played a role in this, he remarked. Furthermore, the uncertain economic outlook related to the armed conflict in the Middle East is causing some people planning to buy a home to be cautious. A similar situation occurred in the spring of 2022, when the Russian-Ukrainian war broke out, he added. (novekedes.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Opus profits rise despite falling revenue
Opus Global realised Ft 21.2 billion net profit in the fourth quarter of 2025, up by 10% from Ft 19.3 billion a year earlier, the company reported.
Revenue dropped by 32.7% from Ft 148.1 billion to Ft 99.7 billion but the ebitda rose by 15.9% from Ft 25.6 billion to Ft 29.7 billion.
Post-tax profit grew by 17.3% from Ft 17.7 billion to Ft 20.7 billion.
In 2025 as a whole, Opus Global’s post-tax profit shrank by 3.4% to Ft 49.1 billion, as revenue fell by 21.7% to Ft 467.4 billion.
The group continued its efficiency improvement programme in 2025, reducing costs by more than 23% to Ft 422 billion.
As a result, the company reported higher ebitda despite lower operating revenue.
Management is proposing a Ft 10.6 billion dividend payout, up from Ft 8.1 billion a year earlier, for approval at the AGM on April 30.
The dividend per share will increase from Ft 15 last year to a minimum of Ft 20, the exact amount depending on the extent of further share purchases. (portfolio.hu; mfor.hu; forbes.hu; economx.hu; telex.hu; 24.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Delta Group misses first-half target
Delta Group’s first-half consolidated revenue reached Ft 12.3 billion and its ebitda Ft 202 million in the first half of its financial year, the IT holding company reported on Tuesday.
The lower results than expected were caused by the costs of protracted acquisition processes, the economic slowdown, and orders postponed by clients, the company said.
The company is implementing the first phase of acquisitions based on its five-year strategic plan.
Delta expects a stronger second half, based on its current order book and expected market trends, and targets annual revenue of Ft 30 billion.
Total assets reached Ft 18.229 billion, up by 15.4% from a year earlier. (portfolio.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Weger building factory with state aid
Weger Hungaria, an Italian-owned air conditioner maker, is building a Ft 9.5 billion factory in Jaszarokszallas, a small town in Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok county, for which the government is providing Ft 1.1 billion in support, securing 250 jobs, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minster Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday.
Some 80-90% of their products manufactured here will be sold on foreign markets, mostly in Western Europe, he added. (magyarhirlap.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
4iG acquires rotorcraft maintenance HeliControl
4iG Space and Defence Technologies has completed the acquisition of a 63% stake in HeliControl, securing majority ownership.
The transaction closed on Wednesday after the necessary regulatory approvals were obtained and contractual conditions were met.
The deal marks 4iG’s entry into the rotorcraft maintenance and modernisation market, broadening its presence in the defence and aerospace sector. (portfolio.hu; mfor.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Waberers launches share buyback to support incentive scheme
Waberer’s International has approved a share buyback programme to secure stock for its share-based incentive scheme, the haulier announced on the BSE on Wednesday.
Under the programme, up to 100,000 ordinary shares may be acquired on the exchange between April 1 and June 30, to a total value of Ft 200 million.
Including the newly acquired shares, the nominal value of treasury stock must not exceed 5% of Waberer’s current share capital.
The company has mandated Equilor brokers to execute the purchases. (portfolio.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
MNB sends artworks to regional museums
The MNB deposited 61 works of art from its collection in the Laczko Dezso Museum in Veszprem, deputy governor Levente Sipos-Tompa said in the town on Wednesday.
He added that the new leaders of the MNB are committed to focusing on core tasks as stipulated in the law.
All of the art purchased by the MNB when it was led by Gyorgy Matolcsy will be placed in museums.
The art collection will be on display in one Budapest and 29 provincial museums.
The MNB previously delivered artworks to museums in Budapest, Debrecen, Szekesfehervar and Karcag, the hometown of MNB governor Mihaly Varga. (portfolio.hu; magyarnemzet.hu; novekedes.hu)
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2nd April, 2026
Demand for flights to Budapest spikes ahead of election day
Demand for flights to Budapest on April 11, the day before the parliamentary elections, has surged dramatically, reaching levels typically seen only during the Christmas travel season.
According to data from repjegy.hu, flight searches for that date are about twice as high as on an average day.
This increase far exceeds the modest rise observed during the Easter holiday period.
In fact, only Christmas sees higher demand, when search volumes can reach around 250% of normal levels.
The latest spike suggests that many Hungarians living abroad are planning to return home to vote.
Interest in April 11 travel began building at the end of 2025 and peaked in early 2026, remaining strong until mid-March.
Since then, demand has slightly declined, probably because most tickets have already been booked.
While Hungarians residing abroad with a permanent address in Hungary can vote at embassies and consulates, without needing to travel home, many appear to want to combine voting with a visit to the homeland. (24.hu; hvg.hu; nepszava.hu)
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