Hungary election: Pro-Putin Prime Minister Viktor Orban declares victory in country’s elections

In yesterday’s parliamentary elections held in Hungary, about 8.2 million adult citizens were eligible to vote in more than 10,000 polling stations. Polling stations closed at 19:00 while turnout was 67.8 % half an hour before closing.

According to the first preliminary election results, based on 36.3 % of the votes tallied, right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling party, Fidesz, has 58 % of the vote. The defense party, Fidesz, has a huge advantage over its opposition rivals, while a pro-European opposition coalition United for Hungary received 30.4 % of the vote.

According to these results, Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his party Fidesz are on track to win a fourth consecutive term. The voting in Hungary was held for the first time under the supervision of more than 200 international observers.

According to Mediana exit poll estimates, the radical movement “Our Homeland” and the satirical party “Two Tailed Dog Party” did not exceed the threshold of five percent. In the face of Orban, six opposition parties agreed on an unprecedented alliance to oust the 58-year-old leader.

Opposition leader Peter Marki-Zay called the vote an election between East and West. He stated that Orban degraded democratic rights, turning Hungary towards Russia and further from the EU.  /The Geopost