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Hungary election: Viktor Orbán expected to win big majority - live updates Hungary election: Viktor Orbán declares victory - live updates
(35 minutes later)
Shaun Walker is outside Fidesz election HQ, where Viktor Orban is expected to speak soon. The crowd at the Orbán victory rally is now singing the national anthem.
Orbán is leading the crowd in song - it is the anthem of the revolution from 1948, Euronews says. He finishes by saying “long live Hungary, thank you for everything.”
Viktor Orbán continues by thanking “all the people who prayed for us and prayed for me personally”. Also on the list of thanks are the party volunteers and his wife.
He says we now have a major battle behind us. “This has been a decisive win... in the future we are going to be able to defend our mother country.”
“We have won.” With these three words Viktor Orbán began to address the crowds outside Fidesz headquarters.
He starts by congratulating the voters for turning out to vote. “Thank you for having placed your faith in us; thank you for having stuck with us.”
Supporters of Viktor Orbán are in a jubilant mood as they await outside Fidesz party headquarters.
Thanks to Euronews, I can tell you the crowd are listening to Roxette’s Listen to Your Heart.
Here is how Hungary’s parliament will look, based on preliminary results with 75% of votes counted.
Fidesz-KDNP coalition 134 seats
Jobbik 26 seats
Socialists 20 seats
The remaining nine seats go to smaller parties.
And this is from Hungarian journalist, Andras Szabo.
Fidesz predicted to have constitutional 2/3 majority in Parliament again. Jobbik will be the strongest opposition party. Socialists, Democratic Coalition and LMP will also enter Parliament. pic.twitter.com/yBO4hqfVOO
Shaun Walker is outside Fidesz election HQ, where Viktor Orbán is expected to speak soon.
With Fidesz predicted to win a supermajority in parliament, it is shaping up to be a bad night for the opposition.With Fidesz predicted to win a supermajority in parliament, it is shaping up to be a bad night for the opposition.
The far-right Jobbik has won 20% of the preliminary result, while the Socialists have got 11.85%.The far-right Jobbik has won 20% of the preliminary result, while the Socialists have got 11.85%.
The ruling Fidesz party of Viktor Orbán is projected to win 134 seats with 74.6% of votes counted, according to the national election website.The ruling Fidesz party of Viktor Orbán is projected to win 134 seats with 74.6% of votes counted, according to the national election website.
The first results are finally out and it looks terrible for the opposition and a resounding win for Fidesz. The complicated electoral system means it is hard to tell how many seats in parliament Fidesz will win but it looks like they will certainly have a majority and may even get the two-thirds constitutional majority. A resounding win for Orbán after a day of quiet optimism among some of the opposition.The first results are finally out and it looks terrible for the opposition and a resounding win for Fidesz. The complicated electoral system means it is hard to tell how many seats in parliament Fidesz will win but it looks like they will certainly have a majority and may even get the two-thirds constitutional majority. A resounding win for Orbán after a day of quiet optimism among some of the opposition.
Viktor Orbán is set for a third straight election win, preliminary results show.Viktor Orbán is set for a third straight election win, preliminary results show.
Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party received 49.5% of votes on a national party list, according to preliminary results based on 69.1% of votes being counted.Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party received 49.5% of votes on a national party list, according to preliminary results based on 69.1% of votes being counted.
While we await the results, here is an interesting take from Daniel Hegedüs, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund thinktank.While we await the results, here is an interesting take from Daniel Hegedüs, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund thinktank.
Irrespective from the outcome of the elections, on April 8 Hungarian politics will enter a new era...Irrespective from the outcome of the elections, on April 8 Hungarian politics will enter a new era...
Even if Jobbik and the left-liberal opposition can agree on a short-term political action plan, they will be paralysed by the fact that, given the capture of the state by Fidesz over the last years, all state institutions are controlled by Viktor Orbán’s acolytes. Lacking the required constitutional majority, the opposition cannot reshuffle the institutional settings in accordance with the principle of the rule of law.Even if Jobbik and the left-liberal opposition can agree on a short-term political action plan, they will be paralysed by the fact that, given the capture of the state by Fidesz over the last years, all state institutions are controlled by Viktor Orbán’s acolytes. Lacking the required constitutional majority, the opposition cannot reshuffle the institutional settings in accordance with the principle of the rule of law.
You can read the full article hereYou can read the full article here
Counting is under way...Counting is under way...
We won’t know the preliminary results of these elections for some time, but Hungarian journalists are already assessing the most likely outcomes.We won’t know the preliminary results of these elections for some time, but Hungarian journalists are already assessing the most likely outcomes.
The website Index, citing party data, says that ruling party Fidesz has taken a hit in the capital, but proved to be very popular in the countryside, winning more voters than in 2014.The website Index, citing party data, says that ruling party Fidesz has taken a hit in the capital, but proved to be very popular in the countryside, winning more voters than in 2014.
An official government site, AboutHungary, seems to endorse the analysis. AboutHungary reports Index’s forecasts that Fidesz and its Christian Democratic ally, the KDNP, are expected to win 116 out of 199 seats in Hungary’s national assembly.An official government site, AboutHungary, seems to endorse the analysis. AboutHungary reports Index’s forecasts that Fidesz and its Christian Democratic ally, the KDNP, are expected to win 116 out of 199 seats in Hungary’s national assembly.
Health warning: these are not official results.Health warning: these are not official results.
First results of #hungarianelections will only be available around 10pm, but preliminary information published by Hungarian news site https://t.co/U2eUrq4kFq shows #Fidesz is going to win big in the countryside, while it is set to lose mandates in the capital and a few cities.First results of #hungarianelections will only be available around 10pm, but preliminary information published by Hungarian news site https://t.co/U2eUrq4kFq shows #Fidesz is going to win big in the countryside, while it is set to lose mandates in the capital and a few cities.
Hungary’s national election office has said it expects to release preliminary results of the election around 11pm local time (10pm BST), later than originally thought.Hungary’s national election office has said it expects to release preliminary results of the election around 11pm local time (10pm BST), later than originally thought.
Hundreds of people have been queuing to vote in Budapest, long past the official poll closing time of 7pm.Hundreds of people have been queuing to vote in Budapest, long past the official poll closing time of 7pm.
The head of the office, Ilona Palffy, told private broadcaster ATV that turnout in two districts had been much higher than anticipated.The head of the office, Ilona Palffy, told private broadcaster ATV that turnout in two districts had been much higher than anticipated.
Here are some images of voters in Budapest queuing to cast their votes, after the official closing at 7pm local time (6pm BST).Here are some images of voters in Budapest queuing to cast their votes, after the official closing at 7pm local time (6pm BST).
The ‘Stop’ poster reveals how Viktor Orbán has put hostility to migrants at the centre of his campaign. The Guardian’s Shaun Walker sums up this aspect of Orbán’s political project.The ‘Stop’ poster reveals how Viktor Orbán has put hostility to migrants at the centre of his campaign. The Guardian’s Shaun Walker sums up this aspect of Orbán’s political project.
I arrived in Budapest a month ago and, while Viktor Orbán has been spewing far right rhetoric for several years, as an outsider coming in, the concentration and intensity of the anti-migration message has been shocking.I arrived in Budapest a month ago and, while Viktor Orbán has been spewing far right rhetoric for several years, as an outsider coming in, the concentration and intensity of the anti-migration message has been shocking.
Orbán speaks in terms that in most countries would be the preserve of extreme rightwing fringe parties, telling Hungarians that “tens of millions” of migrants from Africa and the Middle East are waiting to kick down Hungary’s door and warning that they will bring terror, crime and rape with them.Orbán speaks in terms that in most countries would be the preserve of extreme rightwing fringe parties, telling Hungarians that “tens of millions” of migrants from Africa and the Middle East are waiting to kick down Hungary’s door and warning that they will bring terror, crime and rape with them.
He has accused the Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros of hatching a plan to destroy Hungary by flooding it with migrants, and Budapest has been plastered with posters decrying Soros for the past year. The most prominent of these shows a grinning Soros with all the opposition politicians, accusing them of being in league in a plot to cut down Orbán’s anti-migrant fence that runs along the country’s southern border.He has accused the Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros of hatching a plan to destroy Hungary by flooding it with migrants, and Budapest has been plastered with posters decrying Soros for the past year. The most prominent of these shows a grinning Soros with all the opposition politicians, accusing them of being in league in a plot to cut down Orbán’s anti-migrant fence that runs along the country’s southern border.
Shortly before the election, a new poster appeared, this one not even officially a Fidesz campaign poster but simply part of a publicly funded “government information” campaign. It shows the same photograph used in Ukip’s controversial “breaking point” poster and is embossed with one simple word: STOP.Shortly before the election, a new poster appeared, this one not even officially a Fidesz campaign poster but simply part of a publicly funded “government information” campaign. It shows the same photograph used in Ukip’s controversial “breaking point” poster and is embossed with one simple word: STOP.
Fed a diet of scare stories about migrants by the government-friendly media, many Hungarians support Orbán on migration. But the Fidesz campaign has centre almost exclusively around the topic. Orbán has hammered home the dangers of migration in almost every speech. It remains to be seen whether a one-issue campaign is enough to win an election. If it is, the big question is where Fidesz goes from there during the next four years, having already ramped up the rhetoric to fever pitch.Fed a diet of scare stories about migrants by the government-friendly media, many Hungarians support Orbán on migration. But the Fidesz campaign has centre almost exclusively around the topic. Orbán has hammered home the dangers of migration in almost every speech. It remains to be seen whether a one-issue campaign is enough to win an election. If it is, the big question is where Fidesz goes from there during the next four years, having already ramped up the rhetoric to fever pitch.
There are still people queuing to cast a vote in Budapest, according to election officials.There are still people queuing to cast a vote in Budapest, according to election officials.
Hungary’s national elections office has said it will not announce any preliminary results until all votes are counted, according to the official site abouthungary.huHungary’s national elections office has said it will not announce any preliminary results until all votes are counted, according to the official site abouthungary.hu
The last polling station is expected to close at around 10pm (9pm BST) in Budapest. Anyone who arrived in the queue before the official closing time of 7pm was told they would be able to vote.The last polling station is expected to close at around 10pm (9pm BST) in Budapest. Anyone who arrived in the queue before the official closing time of 7pm was told they would be able to vote.
Meanwhile, opposition activists are gathering in central Budapest to await those preliminary results.Meanwhile, opposition activists are gathering in central Budapest to await those preliminary results.
Opposition supporters gathering in a tent at Parliament in #Budapest. First results are to be published within some minutes. #HungaryElections pic.twitter.com/2vZD3qyuMmOpposition supporters gathering in a tent at Parliament in #Budapest. First results are to be published within some minutes. #HungaryElections pic.twitter.com/2vZD3qyuMm
Elsewhere, an election techno party is under way.Elsewhere, an election techno party is under way.
Meanwhile, huge techno election afterparty on Freedom Square, near parliament. #Hungary pic.twitter.com/eIyFaQaZEcMeanwhile, huge techno election afterparty on Freedom Square, near parliament. #Hungary pic.twitter.com/eIyFaQaZEc
There is something familiar about one of Viktor Orbán’s election posters, seen here in the town of Gyongyos.There is something familiar about one of Viktor Orbán’s election posters, seen here in the town of Gyongyos.
The image shows migrants crossing the Croatian-Slovenian border: mainly men, mainly Syrians and Afghans, searching for a new life in Germany. The picture has been deployed as part of Orbán’s anti-migrant campaign, the main theme of his pre-election rallies.The image shows migrants crossing the Croatian-Slovenian border: mainly men, mainly Syrians and Afghans, searching for a new life in Germany. The picture has been deployed as part of Orbán’s anti-migrant campaign, the main theme of his pre-election rallies.
The same image was used by Ukip in 2016, when the party launched its infamous ‘Breaking Point’ poster during the EU referendum. The Getty photographer who took the image later told the Guardian that Ukip had betrayed the people in the photo.The same image was used by Ukip in 2016, when the party launched its infamous ‘Breaking Point’ poster during the EU referendum. The Getty photographer who took the image later told the Guardian that Ukip had betrayed the people in the photo.