Hungary held its most consequential parliamentary elections since the end of communism on 12 April 2026, with a record voter turnout of around 76–79%, the highest in decades. The vote marked a major political turning point in the country’s modern history. The opposition Tisza Party, led by Péter Magyar, won a landslide victory over Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, which had been in power for 16 years.
On April 14, commenting on political developments in Hungary, Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the Bright Armenia party, stated in a video shared on his Facebook page that opposition figure Péter Magyar had achieved a “historic victory” over Viktor Orbán, whose party had governed the country for 16 years. He noted that out of 199 parliamentary seats, 138 were secured by Magyar’s party, while Orbán’s party obtained 55.
Marukyan emphasized that the outcome came despite external political signals, recalling that “two or three days ago, JD Vance was there and declared his support for Orbán.” Drawing parallels with Armenia, he argued that public narratives about the invincibility of the authorities are misleading. Referring to Nikol Pashinyan, he remarked that claims about backing from global powers should not discourage opposition efforts, stressing that “if the Armenian people have a good offer from the opposition, there will be intrigue… and the government will be changed.”
Addressing voter engagement, Marukyan pointed to the high turnout in Hungary, where citizens reportedly stood in long lines to vote. He contrasted this with Armenia, stating that such participation cannot be achieved through appeals alone, but requires a compelling political alternative. “It’s not because the opposition is saying, ‘People, this is important, you must go to the polls,’ but because there’s no compelling proposal… We need to create an intriguing proposal,” he stated.
According to Marukyan, discussions about opposition consolidation in Armenia are unproductive, as political forces continue to act independently. He added that his party intends to present a distinct platform, noting, “we… will put forward a good proposal that will be different from all the others, and you will see.” He also rejected characterizations of Orbán as a dictator, arguing that “it’s impossible to defeat a dictator in an election,” and highlighting that Orbán conceded defeat before the final recount, stating, “I accept my defeat, congratulations, we will be the opposition, we will serve Hungary.”
He further criticized interpretations of political processes in Armenia, asserting that they are often distorted. “You have dictators; in Armenia, power hasn’t changed through elections for 35 years, and you’re talking about Hungary?” Marukyan stated, adding that electoral outcomes depend on the choices presented to voters: “If you offer the voter the same thing, you get the same result… the voter makes the decision… not based on your appeals.”
On the same day, Narek Karapetyan, a member of the Strong Armenia party, also commented on the developments, stating that the Hungarian opposition had defeated a long-serving leader and prevented the country from becoming a dictatorship. “Hungary has chosen change, and soon it will happen in Armenia too!” he emphasized.
https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/hungary-elections-results-sparks-heated-debate-in-armenias-opposition-ranks.html
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