Opposition leader Péter Magyar has accused the ruling Fidesz party of orchestrating a mass vote-buying scheme ahead of Hungary's upcoming parliamentary elections, pointing to unprecedented numbers of mail-in ballot registrations as evidence of systematic electoral manipulation.
As of February 2, 2026, 632,565 Hungarians have registered for mail-in voting, more than double the 264,000 who requested postal ballots in the 2022 election. The registration window remains open until March 18, suggesting the final number could climb even higher.
"I hear that due to the Europe-record inflation you caused, this year the 'price' of one vote is already 50,000 forints, and that local organizers have already been distributed 50-50 million forints for organizing," Magyar wrote in a pointed statement directed at Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The accusations center on Hungary's mail-in voting system, which opposition parties and election monitoring groups have long described as vulnerable to abuse. In the 2022 parliamentary election, an extraordinary 94 percent of postal ballots went to Fidesz, a result that raised questions about the integrity of the mail-in process.
Government sources rejected the allegations as politically motivated attacks. Fidesz officials emphasized that mail-in voting serves Hungarian citizens living abroad, particularly in neighboring countries with substantial Hungarian minorities, and that the registration increase reflects growing engagement among diaspora communities.
Opposition figures, however, point to specific systemic concerns. In 2022, activists documented instances where ethnic Hungarian organizations in Serbia and Romania—including the VMSZ and RMDSZ parties—allegedly collected sealed ballot envelopes from voters, raising questions about ballot secrecy. In one widely reported incident, workers at a waste facility in Marosvásárhely (Târgu Mureș) reportedly found discarded ballots marked for opposition parties.
"We will be at every polling station, and we will record every crime," Magyar warned in his statement. "I think it's better if you know that the tricks and crimes from four years ago won't work now. Most people see that your vile government is going, and few will take the risk of going to prison for committing electoral crimes."
The TISZA Party leader also accused the government of pressuring public employees and public works program participants to photograph their completed ballots as proof of voting for Fidesz—a practice that, if confirmed, would constitute serious electoral fraud.
European Union officials have historically expressed concern about Hungary's electoral framework, though Brussels has limited tools to directly intervene in member state elections. Independent monitoring organizations are expected to observe the voting process, with particular attention to mail-in ballot handling.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of shifting political dynamics in Hungary. Magyar's TISZA Party has gained significant traction since emerging as a political force, with recent polling suggesting competitive races in constituencies previously considered Fidesz strongholds.
Government officials defended the mail-in system as legitimate and necessary, arguing that Hungarian citizens abroad deserve full voting rights. Supporters note that neighboring countries with Hungarian minorities have long participated in Hungarian elections, and that diaspora voting is standard practice across European democracies.
In Hungary, as across the region, national sovereignty and European integration exist in constant tension. The upcoming election will test not only competing political visions but also the integrity of democratic institutions that have faced sustained pressure during fourteen years of Fidesz governance.
Electoral authorities have not yet responded to the specific allegations of vote-buying, though regulations prohibit offering material incentives for votes. If substantiated, such practices would constitute criminal offenses carrying significant penalties.
