Support for Péter Magyar's Tisza party dropped from 56% in August to 54% in September, while Fidesz-KDNP rose from 19% to 22%.
Among decided voters, Tisza fell from 66% to 62%, while Fidesz-KDNP climbed from 23% to 26% in the survey conducted between 23 and 28 September.
The survey of 1,000 respondents found that 81% definitely plan to vote, with an additional 9% stating they probably will participate.
The Republikon Institute cited governing disagreements and a weakening post-April election winner attraction effect as drivers of the shift.
Budapest
Budapest · Hungary
September survey findings across the population
The Republikon Institute conducted a political opinion survey for the daily newspaper Nepszava between 23 and 28 September 2026, sampling 1,000 respondents across Hungary. In the overall population, support for the Tisza party led by Peter Magyar decreased by 2 percentage points compared to August, dropping from 56% to 54%. During the same one-month timeframe, preferences for the Fidesz-KDNP coalition associated with Viktor Orban rose by 3 percentage points, increasing from 19% to 22%.
Total population voting preferences in September 2026%
Tisza54%
Fidesz-KDNP22%
Tisza
54 %
Fidesz-KDNP
22 %
Data from the article text
Republikon indicated that these monthly fluctuations within the total population fall within the statistical margin of error for the research sample. Despite the two-point decrease in overall support, Tisza maintained nearly two-and-a-half times the level of public backing registered by Fidesz-KDNP among all surveyed citizens in late September, continuing its run as the leading party.
Preference shifts among decided party voters
A more distinct realignment emerged among survey respondents who expressed definite party preferences. Within this segment of decided voters, backing for Tisza fell by 4 percentage points, shifting downward from 66% in August to 62% in September. Concurrently, support for Fidesz-KDNP advanced by 3 percentage points, moving upward from 23% to 26% over the same monthly interval.
Preferences among decided voters in September 2026%
Tisza62%
Fidesz-KDNP26%
Tisza
62 %
Fidesz-KDNP
26 %
Data from the article text
The research separately evaluated decided voters who explicitly declared their intention to participate in an election. In this specific subgroup, Tisza achieved 64% support, compared to 25% for Fidesz-KDNP. Across all three categories evaluated by the institute (the total population, decided party electors, and participating decided voters), Tisza retained its position as the most supported political entity in the country.
High levels of declared voter mobilization
The September research recorded sustained readiness among Hungarian citizens to take part in national balloting. A total of 81% of surveyed respondents stated that they would definitely cast a ballot if parliamentary elections were held, indicating continued voter engagement across the country.
Declared voter turnout intent in September 2026%
Definitely will vote81%
Probably will vote9%
Definitely will vote
81 %
Probably will vote
9 %
Data from the article text
An additional 9% of respondents reported that they would probably take part in a vote. Combined, these figures demonstrate that 90% of the surveyed electorate expressed positive intent toward voting in late September. This high level of participation readiness remained stable even as the distribution of partisan preferences shifted between August and September across different voter categories.
Analysis of governance and post-election momentum
The September survey was the first time since the parliamentary elections of April 2026 that Republikon recorded an increase in support for the Fidesz-KDNP coalition. The findings also represented the second consecutive month in which Tisza experienced a contraction in its polling advantage over its primary political rival.
According to the analysis published by Republikon, the winner attraction effect that followed Tisza's electoral success in April has begun to diminish over time. The institute stated that as governance commenced, internal policy disputes and differences of opinion emerged, contributing to a partial outflow of voters from Tisza. Even with these recent monthly declines, overall support for Tisza continues to stand above the result the party secured during its April election victory.
Tisza lead narrows in September poll as Fidesz-KDNP records first gains since April
A Republikon Institute poll shows Hungary's Tisza party dropped to 54% among the general population in late September, while Fidesz-KDNP rose to 22% in its first post-election gain.
AI text based on reports by TVP Info and Rzeczpospolita. Published .