Orbán spoke for the first time since his election defeat
In his first public statement following the parliamentary elections, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán acknowledged the defeat of his party, Fidesz.
He posted it on his Facebook page. The politician noted that 2.25 million votes were not enough for victory, although in 2014 such support had secured a win.
Orbán called the party’s performance commendable and stated that Fidesz remains the most united political community, which will continue to serve voters. Now, the party leader plans to focus on defending the achievements of the national camp and to visit every electoral district. A nationwide meeting of the party’s governing body, attended by activists and lawmakers, is scheduled for April 28.
In the April 12 elections, the conservative Tisa party, led by Péter Magyar, won with 52.88% of the vote and 45 seats. This result allows Magyar to run for the position of prime minister, who is elected by parliament upon the president’s nomination. Fidesz’s rhetoric during the campaign frequently touched on Russia and EU institutions, yet this did not prevent the opposition from securing a mandate to form a new government.
International observers noted high voter turnout in Hungary’s parliamentary elections, but pointed out a lack of equal opportunities for candidates due to systemic advantages enjoyed by the ruling party. However, this did not help the party.
As a reminder, according to the results of 98.93% of the votes counted, the Tisa party received 69.35% of the vote. This gives the opposition 138 seats in parliament, allowing it to form a constitutional majority on its own.
