18 minutes agoElection in Hungary, Orban hosts third term
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)Most polling stations have closed in Hungary and have started counting votes after a record turnout that could threaten Prime Minister Viktor Orban's parliamentary majority. Following a fiery election campaign during which the right-wing prime minister described himself as the savior of Hungarian Christian culture from Muslim migration to [...]
Most polling stations have closed in Hungary and have started counting votes after a record turnout that could threaten Prime Minister Viktor Orban's parliamentary majority.
Following a heated election campaign during which the right-wing prime minister described himself as the savior of Hungarian Christian culture from Muslim migration to Europe, polls had given great advantage to his party Fidesz.
A convincing victory could spur it to further support the Central European Alliance against EU immigration policies, as Orban, Hungary's longest-lived prime minister after communism, opposes the bloc's deeper integration.
Official voting data says turnout exceeded 68% higher over the past 20 years. In 2002, a large turnout, but not enough, led to the opposition of Orban for eight years.
Local media write that the prime minister's political rivals highly appreciated the big turnout in the elections, expecting it to be a bitter surprise for Victor Orban. As the votes are counted, analysts show caution with the forecasts, but still do not deny the third mandate to the prime minister, though they say the two-thirds majority already seems very difficult.
