Municipal elections in Hungary: Opposition takes Budapest and major cities

Portfolio
In Sunday's municipal elections in Hungary, opposition candidates won several surprise victories, taking the Lord Mayor of Budapest and a majority the capital's general assembly. Meanwhile, governing party Fidesz remained strong in small communities.
onkormanyzati valasztas karacsony gergely fopolgarmester

In Budapest, opposition candidate Gergely Karácsony took 50.86% of votes for Lord Mayor, while incumbent István Tarlós had 44.1%. As for individual districts, the opposition took Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19, with Fidesz candidates winning in Districts 5, 10, 12, 16, 17, 21 and 22. Independent candidates won in Districts 20 and 23. In the Budapest General Assembly, the unified opposition will have a 18-15 majority.

Fidesz also lost several major cities, with the opposition taking over seven cities with county rights (Eger, Miskolc, Érd, Tatabánya, Dunaújváros, Pécs and Szombathely) while retaining the three that already had opposition mayors (Salgótarján, Szeged and Hódmezővásárhely). Fidesz candidates, or independents with Fidesz support, were elected in 13 cities with county rights.

As for county assemblies, Fidesz again won a majority in all 19 county assemblies (elected by towns outside of Budapest without county rights) and its candidates will be mayors in virtually all smaller towns and villages. As Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on election night,

We can count on the Hungarian countryside and the Hungarian countryside can count on us.

 

More in Economy

parlament országház budapest getty stock
May 20, 2025 17:03

Hungarian Parliament votes for Hungary to leave ICC

Following up on an earlier promise

May 20, 2025 16:28

85 editors-in-chief from 22 countries jointly ask EU for help over transparency law

Signatories in include The Guardian, ORF, Gazeta Wyborcza

magyar nemzeti bank mnb jegybank
May 20, 2025 15:15

Hungarian banking system perceives slight deterioration in economic environment

Many expect worsening profitability - central bank survey shows

home office otthoni munka
May 20, 2025 15:05

Teleworking is making a comeback in Hungary as more companies ease restrictions

Number of remote work options has even increased

market
May 20, 2025 13:16

New clash between retailers and Hungary's Economy Ministry

What should be done about the margin cap?

LATEST NEWS

Detailed search