Hungary's opposition Tisza Party has launched "Voice of the Nation" referendum, aiming to gauge public opinion on a range of social, economic and political issues ahead of next year's elections. The initiative opened both online and in person on March 24, with voting set to continue until April 11.

The poll features 13 questions on topics including: pension support, VAT cuts on essential goods, increased healthcare funding, local government autonomy, a two-term limit for prime ministers, and Hungary's EU and Nato memberships. In the last question, Tisza is also gauging people's view on Ukraine's EU membership.

Magyar contrasted the referendum with government-led consultations, which he dismissed as "political theatre."

Participation requires registration, with online voters undergoing two-factor authentication and in-person participants presenting photo ID. The party aims to reach all 3,150 municipalities before the deadline.

Despite poor weather, activists mobilised across Hungary to promote the campaign. By Tuesday morning, more than 100,000 votes have been cast, according to Magyar's post on Facebook. The number of registrations have exceeded hundreds of thousands, he added. 

Addressing concerns about data privacy, he assured that the party is not compiling an illegal voter list, arguing that maintaining contact with supporters is lawful if conducted transparently and funded through donations rather than state resources.

One of the more contentious proposals in the referendum is the introduction of a two-term limit for prime ministers, which would require a constitutional amendment. Magyar, who has positioned himself as a challenger to Prime Minister Viktor Orban's long-standing rule, said the Tisza Party's goal is to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority to "restore democratic values and end government overreach."

The timing of the initiative is notable, coinciding with Fidesz's own nationwide consultation on a single question: whether Hungary should support Ukraine's EU accession.

Magyar accused the ruling party of using public funds for what he called a predetermined exercise in data collection, contrasting it with Tisza's grassroots-driven approach.

While the referendum holds no legal weight, it is likely to serve as a barometer of Magyar's growing political influence as he seeks to rally support ahead of the 2026 elections, analysts said.

In related news, the coordinator of local Tisza Party groups, so-called Tisza Islands, stepped down on Monday, citing internal issues, but did not provide details.

Farkas, a finance graduate with a background in startups and international education, was a key figure in the 2024 June election campaign year and played a central role in expanding the party’s grassroots.

According to pro-government media, the wife of Farkas is accused of playing a central role in a financial fraud by accepting cash from illicit transactions.

Magyar assured supporters that the resignation would not disrupt the party's operations, with campaign manager Peter Toth temporarily taking over the role. Toth, the son of one of the most successful local mayors of a Budapest district, is an experienced PR strategist, having worked in numerous campaigns for the opposition in the past.