Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wins fourth consecutive term
Viktor Orban,58, is already the longest-serving head of government in the European Union.
Viktor Orban,58, is already the longest-serving head of government in the European Union, who was challenged by a coalition of six opposition parties attempting to reverse the “illiberal” revolution including judiciary, the press and the LGBTQ community, started by the Orban’s party during his 12 years in power. With 94 per cent of voting, Orban was on 53 per cent and his opposition on 35 per cent.
Viktor Orban,58, is already the longest-serving head of government in the European Union, who was challenged by a coalition of six opposition parties.
With 94 per cent of voting, Orban was on 53 per cent and his opposition on 35 per cent.
For the first time more than 200 international observers, as well as thousands of domestic volunteers from both sides watched the election.
(Photograph:AFP)
Later, on Sunday evening, Peter Marki-Zay, the conservative leader of the opposition party addressed the supporters and admitted his defeat. While addressing the crowd he said that he won’t hide his sadness and disappointment, accusing Fidesz of conducting “lies and hate” campaigns. He further added that opposition did all humanly things possible but the campaign had been unfair fight.
Peter Marki-Zay, the conservative leader of the opposition party addressed the supporters and admitted defeat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after his party won a fourth term in office and said he hoped to further build ties, the Kremlin said.
The 69-year-old Russian leader has been increasingly isolated internationally after he sent troops to pro-Western Ukraine on February 24.
The nationalist Hungarian prime minister has been one of his rare allies in Europe and in NATO.
(Photograph:AFP)
Critics claim that the state-controlled media has influenced peoples’ perception of the Ukraine war and claims that the opposition-led government would back sanctions on Russian gas imports and even put Hungary at risk by supplying arms to Ukraine.
Official results from Hungary's general election on Sunday showed Orban's Fidesz party had won a fourth term in office by a much greater margin than pre-election polls had suggested, after a campaign overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict.
(Photograph:AFP)
The prime minister has claimed that this viewpoint on the current Ukraine war is intended at safeguarding the Hungary’s military and the military security, but all of this being put in a doubt by its long-time allies in Warsaw who have aided Orban during his struggles with Brussels.
Diplomatically, Orban fell into line with EU support for Kyiv despite his longstanding closeness to Putin.
But at home, Orban has struck a neutral and even anti-Ukrainian tone at times, refusing to let weapons for Ukraine cross Hungarian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has singled Orban out for criticism over his reticence to take a tougher stance against Russia.
(Photograph:AFP)
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The Italian far-right leader Matteo Salvini congratulated Orban for his victory. The French far-right leader Marine Le Pen also congratulated the Hungarian prime minister for his fourth term victory and even posted a picture with him shaking her hands where the caption said: “When the people vote, the people win!”
Orban's administration has presided over repeated confrontations with the European Union, including over the neutering of the press and judiciary, and measures targeting the LGBTQ community - also the subject of a vote on Sunday.