Incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán claims ‘big victory’ in Hungary | Abroad

Addressing a cheering crowd that chanted his name, Orbán said: “We have won a great victory – a victory so great that you may be able to see it from the moon and certainly from Brussels.”

In the Hungarian parliamentary elections, the entire opposition had united against incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Six parties are represented in the opposition coalition United for Hungary, from the radical right to environmental left parties.

Orban (58) has been prime minister of Hungary for the second time since 2010. He also led the country between 1998 and 2002. He curtailed freedom of the press and, according to critics, manipulated democracy to his will. The developments in the country have been a thorn in the side of Brussels for years.

Marki-Zay, 49, had been chosen by the opposition parties as a challenger to Orbán. He says he wants to make the country more democratic and stands for a more pro-European approach. According to him, the elections were a choice between Orbán and affiliation with Russia, or the opposition and affiliation with the West. He admitted to losing to Orbán on Sunday evening. Orbán is one of Putin’s most important allies in Europe, he has condemned the invasion of Ukraine, but has gone less far than his European colleagues.

The Hungarians could also vote on new LGBTI policies, which would make openly admitting a sexuality other than heterosexual almost impossible. The initial results did not provide any indication on these issues.

—