Péter Magyar, leader of Hungary’s Tisza Party, announced on Sunday that his party will support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, contingent upon a future electoral victory. The announcement followed the conclusion of a large-scale national consultation organised by the party under the name Nemzet Hangja (“Voice of the Nation”).
The consultation process, which began on 15 March, sought to gather public opinion on 13 political and policy questions, including Hungary’s stance on Ukraine’s potential EU membership. According to the party’s vice-president, Márk Radnai, over 1.1 million people participated in the survey. A majority of respondents – 58.18 per cent – expressed support for Ukraine joining the European Union. While this was the lowest affirmative response among the 13 issues raised, it nonetheless formed part of a complete set of “yes” answers.
Speaking at a rally held on the Buda side of the Danube embankment, Magyar confirmed that the results of the consultation would serve as the foundational principles of a future Tisza government should the party prevail in the 2026 general elections.
“This has been the largest independent initiative in Hungary’s political history,” Magyar said, thanking participants and emphasising that the consultation had been carried out without government support or resources. He contrasted the cost of the initiative – reportedly HUF 60 million – with the HUF 7 billion spent by the ruling Fidesz party on its most recent national consultation campaign.
The consultation involved 12,231 volunteers who conducted activities in 3,155 municipalities across Hungary. According to party data, 10,399 mobile outreach stations were deployed during the three-week period. Magyar himself reportedly visited all 106 electoral districts, holding 113 public forums. The campaign included the distribution of 1.1 million printed flyers and the dispatch of 3.5 million emails. The party claims a total of 250,000 work hours were invested in the initiative, the equivalent of 28 years of continuous labour.
In addition to the question on Ukraine, other issues included proposals to reduce the VAT on medicines to zero, to reintroduce the simplified KATA tax regime, and to impose a wealth tax on assets exceeding HUF 5 billion. Support for these domestic measures was overwhelmingly high, with affirmative responses ranging from 81.91 per cent to 99.33 per cent.
Key findings included:
92.59 per cent supported reducing VAT on medicines to zero.
98.29 per cent favoured prohibiting state funding for private healthcare while allocating a minimum of HUF 500 billion annually to public health.
96.52 per cent backed limiting prime ministerial terms to a maximum of two mandates or eight years.
98.68 per cent agreed that Hungary should remain a member of both the EU and NATO.
While the result on Ukraine’s EU membership showed relatively lower enthusiasm compared to the other items, it remains politically significant. Péter Magyar pledged that, should the Tisza Party enter government, it would honour the outcome of the consultation, including the commitment to support Ukraine’s accession bid.
The announcement comes amid growing debate across Europe about the timeline and conditions for Ukraine’s entry into the European Union. While European Commission officials have previously expressed support in principle, several member states – including Germany – have signalled reluctance. Notably, recent comments from CDU leader Friedrich Merz suggested Berlin may oppose further enlargement at this time.
The Hungarian government under Viktor Orbán has consistently adopted a sceptical approach toward Ukraine’s EU accession, citing security, minority rights, and economic concerns. The Tisza Party’s position thus represents a departure from the governing party’s line, potentially opening the door to a shift in Hungary’s foreign policy orientation in the event of a political change.
Although the consultation results are not binding, Péter Magyar underscored their significance as a democratic expression of public will. “The voice of the Hungarian people can move mountains,” he declared. “These results will form the cornerstones of a new government programme.”
Founded in 2024, the Tisza Party is a relatively new entrant in Hungarian politics, positioning itself as an alternative to both Fidesz and the fragmented opposition. It has gained traction through grassroots outreach and a platform focused on institutional reform, transparency, and reinvigorated EU alignment.
The 2026 parliamentary elections are expected to be closely watched across Europe, particularly in light of Hungary’s ongoing tensions with Brussels. Should the Tisza Party secure a parliamentary majority, its pledge to support Ukraine’s EU membership could influence future Council deliberations on enlargement.
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Hungarian Government Launches Anti-Ukraine EU Campaign Ahead of National Consultation
