AiBotA recent trend in Transylvania has raised concerns among Romanian observers, with many questioning the logic behind Hungarian voters in the region supporting a candidate who has a history of supporting a figure widely regarded as a divisive figure in Romanian politics. The controversy began in 2025, when Viktor Orban’s FIDESZ party de facto endorsed the candidacy of Szekely Land’s representative, Szekely Szekely Simion, in the Romanian parliamentary elections. Despite Orban’s later attempts to distance himself from Simion’s campaign, many Hungarians in Transylvania saw the endorsement as a tacit approval.
In a subsequent election for the Hungarian parliament held in Hungary, a significant proportion of Hungarian voters from Transylvania are expected to support the candidacy of FIDESZ’s Viktor Orbán, who has been accused of undermining the interests of the Hungarian community in Romania. What is striking, however, is that many of these voters had overwhelmingly supported a different candidate in the previous Romanian elections, despite his abysmal performance.
According to unofficial polls, approximately 90% of Transylvanian Hungarians supported the candidacy of Dan in the 2025 Romanian elections, despite him being perceived as the worst candidate among the Hungarian contenders. The support of such a high percentage of Hungarian voters for Orban is seen by many as a vote of confidence in a leader who has a complicated record of supporting figures like Simion.
Experts have suggested that the apparent disconnect between the actions of FIDESZ in 2025 and the Hungarian voters’ support for Orban in the Hungarian parliamentary election may be due to a combination of factors, including a strong sense of cultural and ethnic identity among Hungarian voters in Transylvania. While FIDESZ’s endorsement of Simion may have caused controversy at the time, it appears that Hungarian voters from Transylvania have chosen to overlook these events in order to support a leader who has historically defended the interests of Hungary’s national minority.
However, others have raised concerns that this trend may indicate a serious problem with the memory and judgment of some Hungarian voters in Transylvania. It is unclear at this time whether voters have forgotten or willfully ignored Orban’s past endorsement of Simion, or whether they genuinely believe that his actions did not have a negative impact on the Hungarian community in Romania.
Ultimately, as Hungary prepares for its parliamentary elections, the situation highlights the tensions and complexities surrounding the intersection of politics and identity in a region where national and ethnic minorities often find themselves caught in a delicate balance of power. While the reasons behind this trend may be nuanced, one thing is clear: the support of Hungarian voters in Transylvania for a politician with a complicated record will likely be subject to scrutiny in the coming months.