Opposition wins two-thirds majority in Hungary

Sweeping victory for centre-right Fidesz party.

Hungary’s centre-right opposition Fidesz party won a two-thirds majority in parliament in a second round of voting yesterday (25 April). Fidesz won a landslide in the first round two weeks ago, ending eight years of socialist rule. Jobbik, a far-right party, also did well.

According to preliminary results based on an almost complete count, Fidesz won 68% of the votes and 263 of the 386 seats in the single-chamber parliament. This gives it a mandate to change the constitution and Hungary’s public administration. The socialists won 59 seats and Jobbik 47. A new Green party, the LMP, has 16 seats.

Fidesz’s result was the best achieved by any party since Hungary first held multi-party elections after breaking free of Soviet domination two decades ago.

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In his victory speech, Viktor Orbán, the Fidesz leader who will now become prime minister, said that a “revolution” had taken place. “Hungary has strengthened its commitment to democracy, its position in Europe and in the European Union,” Orbán said.

“Hungarians have overthrown the system and created a new one,” he said. “The old system of leaders using their power for personal gain has been replaced by one of national unity.”

José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, telephoned Orbán yesterday evening to congratulate him on his “impressive electoral victory and on the confidence given to you by the Hungarian people”.

In a statement, Barroso said: “You will come into office at a crucial time, as Hungary and other member states need to act consistently to respond to the challenges of the economic crisis.”

Hungary has been hard hit by the global economic downturn, and Fidesz has accused the socialists of hiding the true extent of the country’s budget deficit.