Hungary’s unfair election: Why Viktor Orbán is so hard to beat

Key Points:

• Hungary's April 12 elections are considered the most consequential since the fall of Communism, but Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has engineered a heavily tilted electoral system favoring his Fidesz party through gerrymandering, media control, and vote-buying.
• Orbán has maintained control over election rules for 16 years, enabling him to win multiple elections despite opposition polling ahead, with tactics including redistricting constituencies to benefit Fidesz and legalizing "voter tourism" to move voters strategically.
• Media capture under Orbán has resulted in a near-monopoly on election narratives, especially in rural areas, with independent outlets suppressed and state-friendly media dominating, limiting opposition exposure.
• Orbán has expanded his voter base by granting citizenship and voting rights to ethnic Hungarians in neighboring countries, who overwhelmingly support Fidesz and can vote easily by mail, while emigrants abroad face more voting hurdles.
• Accusations of vote-buying persist, including the distribution of food such as potatoes in poorer districts, highlighting concerns over electoral fairness and democratic integrity in Hungary.