Evangelical alliance calls for unity after Hungary’s political reset

Hungary’s evangelical leaders are urging unity and Christ-centered love in the wake of a decisive national election that has reshaped the country’s political landscape, as incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year hold on power.

Following Sunday’s (April 12) vote, the secretary general of the Hungarian Evangelical Alliance cautioned believers against deepening divisions, calling on Christians to respond with grace despite differing political convictions.

Preliminary results show Magyar’s center-right Tisza party securing 136 seats in the National Assembly in Budapest, compared with 56 seats for Orbán’s populist right-wing Fidesz party — a result widely described by analysts as a landslide and a clear mandate for political change.

The Center for European Policy Analysis reported that Magyar has since promised to “represent all Hungarians, including those who voted for Fidesz, on a path toward national unification and to end deep polarization.”

In comments sent to Christian Daily International, Istvan Horvath, Secretary General of the Hungarian Evangelical Alliance, called the two-thirds majority by the Tisza party convincing and noted the clarity of the decision by Hungarian voters wanting change in political leadership.

“Some of the evangelical believers welcomed this change with great joy, while others received this change with deep concern,” said Horvath. “Some of the believers see a chance and opportunity for a new beginning, for development, while others point out the dangers that the situation thus developed carries.”

Horvath acknowledged that it would be “too soon” to scrutinise details about the effect of the result upon evangelicals. He opined that both “the joy of the winners and the sorrow of the losers are still present among the believers at the same time.”

“We must be careful to love, accept, and not hurt each other,” cautioned Horvath, as Hungary comes to terms with a political reset under the new prime minister and his party.

“We consider it most important that everything, including the current situation of our country, is in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ,” added Horvath. “He is the solid foundation, the rock, in Him we continue to trust with all our hearts. We accept, experience and pass on His love even now.”

Horvath said the national alliance had been praying for the country’s leaders to make “wise and righteous decisions” — and for those in the opposition to all fulfill their roles correctly, “for the good of our country.”

“We pray for the preservation of peace and love for one another —where necessary, for restoration, reconciliation, especially for the loving resolution of conflicts that arise between generations and around family tables,” added Horvath.

“We pray for the unity of God’s people. We pray that our lives will continue to be a testimony to the Gospel, and that our people will choose Christ in the first place.”

Horvath concluded by asking evangelicals outside the country to hold Hungary up in prayer.