Ruling party senior MP Samkharadze: Hungarian election outcome hard to predict amid tight race

Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Sunday said it was difficult to predict the winner of Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary elections due to the narrow gap between competing parties.

Speaking while observing the vote, Samkharadze noted that the elections are being held in a calm environment and are highly competitive.

“The parliamentary elections in Hungary began at 8 a.m. Tbilisi time. Our delegation is monitoring the process in Szeged under the auspices of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly,” he said.

Samkharadze said voter turnout has been high, reaching around 40 per cent in Szeged by 11 a.m., with nationwide turnout expected to hit approximately 72 per cent, a figure he described as unprecedented both for Hungary and Europe in general.

He added that around 150 international observers are monitoring the elections, including representatives from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Samkharadze said polling stations opened in a peaceful atmosphere and that voting is being conducted using traditional methods, without electronic equipment.

Polling stations are set to close at 9 p.m. Tbilisi time, with preliminary results expected around midnight.

“It is quite difficult to predict who will win, as the difference between the main competitors is very small. This is one of the most competitive elections in Hungary’s recent history,” he said.