Parliamentary elections have begun in Hungary

Polling stations opened across Hungary at 6 a.m. Budapest time on April 12 and will close at 7 p.m.

Five parties are participating in the elections, but only two are real contenders: Viktor Orbán's Fidesz, which has ruled the country for 16 years, and Peter Madiara's Tisza.

Independent sociological surveys predict a convincing victory for the opposition.

The elections are held under a mixed system — voters simultaneously vote for both a specific candidate (in a single-member district) and a party list. Out of 199 seats, 106 are distributed in majoritarian districts by a simple majority of votes, and the remaining 93 are distributed proportionally.

To enter parliament, political parties must overcome a five percent threshold. 100 seats are required to form a government, and 133 seats are required for a constitutional majority.