Hungary's Voks 2025 Reveals Widespread Unease About Ukraine’s EU Accession

The Hungarian public feels that Ukraine’s EU membership is an issue that directly affects them, Daniel Deak told Magyar Nemzet in an interview, following the announcement that over 1.5 million people had already participated in the government-initiated Voks 2025 public opinion vote. According to the analyst, the vote could send a powerful message both domestically and in foreign policy if Hungarians reject Ukraine’s EU accession.

Cover photo: Illustration (Photo: Arpad Kurucz)

“The number of participants alone is a major political achievement,” Deak stated, commenting on the 1.6 million people who have already filled out the Voks 2025 ballot. The lead analyst at the XXI Century Institute said the vote has both a foreign and a domestic policy dimension. From a foreign policy perspective, he said the vote strengthens Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ability to represent Hungary’s position on Ukraine’s EU membership more firmly at European Union summits. He emphasized this is important because Hungary is under significant pressure — pointing to the Ukrainian spy scandal and threats from Brussels as examples.

Voks 2025 gives the government a strong mandate (Photo: AFP)

In terms of domestic politics, Deak noted that the Tisza Party also launched a poll on Ukraine’s EU membership, in which 1.1 million people participated and 58% supported Ukraine’s accession. That’s why it would send an important political message if over 2 million people return their Voks 2025 ballots. “If participants reject Ukraine’s EU membership, that would be a very strong domestic political response to the Tisza Party’s initiative,” the analyst emphasized. He suggested that compared to previous national consultations, Voks 2025 could easily become one of the most successful votes of its kind.

Voks 2025 enjoys more popularity than most national consultations, which shows that people feel Ukraine’s EU accession is a matter that affects them directly,

he added.

As Magyar Nemzet previously reported, Peter Magyar’s supporters are organizing a mass “yes” vote campaign for Voks 2025. According to Deak, the Tisza Party has a clear political goal: to create the impression that the majority of Hungarians support Ukraine’s EU membership, which aligns with the expectations of the European People’s Party (EPP). He recalled that President Volodymyr Zelensky also referred to the Tisza Party’s vote, claiming it proves Hungarian support for Ukraine’s accession. 

It’s no coincidence that reports have emerged of Tisza Party activists campaigning for the ‘yes’ vote, urging as many people as possible to vote that way in Voks 2025. But this is a double-edged sword, because higher turnout could also lend greater legitimacy to the government’s position,

Deak added.

Voks 2025 Open Until June 20

Ballot delivery to the public for Voks 2025 began in April and was completed by the end of May. However, thousands reported their ballots went missing from their mailboxes, prompting the launch of an online voting option in recent days. Participation in Voks 2025 is open until June 20, and based on current trends, the number of voters could exceed 2 million.

The government’s position remains firm: it does not support EU weapons shipments or joint debt, and instead calls for peace negotiations.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the opinion vote on Ukraine’s EU membership at the EU summit in early March. The Hungarian government has extensive experience representing national interests in Brussels and often relies on the clear and firm opinions of Hungarian citizens. Over the past 15 years, the public has overwhelmingly backed the government’s stance on key national issues through national consultations. Beyond consultations, referendums also offer citizens a chance to express their views on critical matters, helping guide the government's direction.

Cover photo: Illustration (Photo: Arpad Kurucz)