Polls close in Hungary after record-breaking election on whether to end Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule

NewsWorldEuropePolls close in Hungary after record-breaking election on whether to end Viktor Orbán’s 16-year ruleCaspar Barnes Sunday 12 April 2026 19:18 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2956189","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/hungary-election-viktor-orban-polls-closed-b2956189.html","title":"Polls close in Hungary after election on whether to end Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule"}}ClosePolls close in Hungary after record-breaking election on whether to end Viktor Orbán's 16-year ruleOn The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly international news dispatchEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_On_The_Ground_Newsletter","regTitle":"On The Ground","subscriptionGroup":"on_the_ground","subscriptionGroupId":"14806361-6435-4d19-b06e-05326605fb01","pathPrefix":["/news/world/europe","/news/world/middle-east","/news/world/australasia","/news/world/africa","/asia"],"associatedAuthors":["Bel Trew","Sam Kiley"],"title":"On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","mobileTitle":"Get a weekly international news dispatch","lengthenedMobileTitle":"Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/onTheGround1_1.png","newsletterKey":"receiveOnTheGround","regSourceSection":"Europe","regSourceMethod":"NSCs"}}Polls have closed in Hungary’s high-stakes election that sees nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán face down th...