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Poll Shows Majority of Hungarian Voters Support Continued EU Membership Ahead of Elections
A survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that 77% of Hungarian voters support EU membership, with 75% expressing trust in the bloc. The poll, conducted between March 26 and April 1, indicates 68% favor some change in Hungary's EU relations. This comes days before national elections where Prime Minister Viktor Orban faces challenger Peter Magyar.
Apr 9, 8:03 AM·2m read1 source
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A poll published by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) indicates strong support among Hungarian voters for continued membership in the European Union. The survey, conducted from March 26 to April 1, 2024, involved respondents ahead of national elections scheduled for April 7, 2024. It revealed that 77% of voters support Hungary's EU membership, while 75% expressed trust in the bloc.
The poll also found that 68% of respondents want at least some degree of change in Hungary's engagement with the EU. This sentiment crosses party lines, with 91% of supporters of the Tisza party, led by challenger Peter Magyar, favoring change. Among voters supporting Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party, 45% also seek a reset in EU relations.
voters showed 65% support for continued EU membership and 64% trust in the bloc.
Additionally, 43% of Fidesz voters backed Hungary joining the euro, compared to 66% in the overall population. Tisza leads Fidesz by a double-digit margin in recent polls, positioning the election as a potential shift after Orban's 16 years in power. Hungary's relations with the EU have involved disputes over policies on justice, migration, LGBTQ+ rights, and aid for Ukraine.
The EU has suspended billions of euros in funding amid these tensions. Orban has opposed EU sanctions against Russia and blocked aid to Ukraine. " — Piotr Buras and Pawel Zerka, ECFR researchers (The Guardian) Domestic issues appear to drive voter choices more than EU relations.
Among Tisza voters, 40% cited a desire for change as their main voting reason, while 27% of Fidesz voters emphasized peace and security. Key concerns included corruption and governance (31% of Tisza voters), public services (18%), and cost of living (17%), with Fidesz voters prioritizing energy security (22%) and inflation (20%).
