Hungary Redraws Electoral Map to Boost Ruling Party’s Chances Ahead of 2026 Elections
Hungarian lawmakers have passed an amendment to redraw the country’s electoral map, a move seen as beneficial to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling party, which is facing an increasingly popular challenger. The amendment reduces the number of constituencies in the capital and redraws the boundaries of some electoral districts.
The move is seen as a attempt to help the governing parties keep their majority in a tight nationwide race, with rival party TISZA, led by former government insider Peter Magyar, gaining ground in opinion polls ahead of the 2026 elections. The opposition has accused the government of tinkering with democratic rules to maintain power.
The amendment was passed with 134 votes in favor and 52 against, and will also introduce new rules for voter identification and allow for recounts in close races. The government argues that the changes are necessary to reflect demographic shifts, including the movement of people out of the capital to the surrounding countryside. However, opposition leader Gergely Karacsony, the mayor of Budapest, says the move is “taking revenge” on the capital for voting against the government in local elections.