Will Hungary’s upcoming election decide its place in Europe?

“Hungary, I want to stop here and be honest. Once and for all. You have to decide for yourself who you are with.” This was the appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a recent EU Council summit. Zelenskyy implored Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán to choose whether he sides with or against Putinism.

Ultimately, it is up to Hungarians to decide. Hungary goes to the polls this weekend, in an election which could determine its future in the European Union. Viktor Orbán has battled with the EU constantly over rule of law, migration, and “illiberal democracy”. These battles are likely to continue if Orbán extends his 12 year reign by another four years, raising the question of whether Hungary may be sliding down the path to Hunxit.

Will Hungary’s upcoming election decide its place in Europe? We teamed up with Euronews and organised a TV debate to discuss the upcoming vote. Orbán (currently leading in the polls) is facing a serious challenge from six opposition parties, led by the conservative mayor of a small Hungarian city, Péter Márki-Zay. What could the election mean for the rest of the EU?

MEPs from both sides of the political spectrum took part in the debate, including Michal Šimečka, Tineke Strik and Gerolf Annemans, as well as political expert András Bíró-Nagy. They responded to questions from readers posed by Caroline Will, our DebatingEurope/DE editor.

Could Hungary’s upcoming election lead to Hunxit? 

Will it strengthen Hungary’s place in the EU? What will be the impact on European unity and solidarity? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!

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