Polls are open across Hungary in an election that could end the 16-year rule of populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The election is significant not only for Hungary but also for the entire European Union.
Polls opened at 6 a.m. and close at around 7 p.m.
According to television reports, 3.46 percent of voters turned out in the first hour of voting, above the usual turnout for the morning session.
Orban and his main rival, Peter Magyar, are expected to vote later in the morning.
The election is being closely watched in countries across Europe and around the world, confirming Orban’s role in far-right populist politics on a global scale.
After winning four consecutive elections with a two-thirds majority for his Fidesz party in parliament, there have been signs that his absolute control over Hungarian politics may be coming to an end.
The Hungarian has quickly emerged as Orban’s most serious opponent, with independent polls showing him to have a stronger lead among voters.
The Tisza party, led by the Hungarian, needs about five percentage points more votes than Fidesz to win a simple majority.
Ahead of the vote, there were concerns that external interference and internal fraud could affect the election results, and both sides launched platforms to report irregularities, accusing each other of planning abuses.
