In Hungary, the sovereignist leader Viktor Orbán won, on Sunday April 3, according to still partial results, a fourth victory in a row, much more easily than expected, at the end of legislative elections in the shadow of the war in Ukraine.

At 58, the oldest incumbent leader of the European Union (EU) faced an unprecedented and disparate alliance of six parties, and analysts had predicted a tight battle as never before.

But according to partial results, his Fidesz party won 54.24% of the vote after counting 77% of the ballots, against 33.92% for the opposition, said the National Electoral Office.

The attendance was strong, approaching the records recorded in 2018.

"We have won an exceptional victory - a victory so great that you can probably see it from the moon, and in any case certainly from Brussels", declared Viktor Orbán, with a big smile and applause, accustomed to arm wrestling with the EU.

“Unfair and impossible conditions”

His opponent Peter Marki-Zay, "MZP", had still not spoken as of 9 p.m. GMT.

By slipping his ballot into the ballot box alongside his family, this 49-year-old conservative mayor had earlier denounced "unfair and impossible conditions" aimed at allowing his rival to "remain in power forever". 

And to quote public media at the boot of the government - itself was entitled to only five minutes of antenna on public television, in all and for all.

In the opposition coalition some, like the vice-president of Jobbik, Marto Gyongyosi, denounced "irregularities".

Accused by Brussels of multiple attacks on the rule of law, Viktor Orban has muzzled justice and the media over 12 years, while advocating an ultra-conservative vision of society.

The ballot was held for the first time under the supervision of more than 200 international observers.

Each camp also deployed thousands of volunteers.

Criticizing "the most corrupt government in the history of Hungary, "MZP" had crisscrossed the country in recent weeks, listening to the inhabitants, in the hope of defeating the "propaganda" of the government. 

"Hungarian Poutine"

Especially since the conflict in neighboring Ukraine has completely changed the situation.

"War broke out, and war changed everything," Viktor Orbán summed up Friday during his only campaign rally.

He posed as a "protector" of Hungary, a guarantor of peace and stability, by refusing to deliver arms to Ukraine and to vote for sanctions which would deprive the Hungarians of precious Russian oil and gas.

At the same time, on election posters and in the pro-Orbán media, Peter Marki-Zay was portrayed as "dangerous", accused of wanting to rush the country into war because of his firm support for Ukraine.

The candidate may have underlined the closeness cultivated since 2010 by the Prime Minister with the Russian president, calling him "Hungarian Putin", his speech was obviously not enough to convince the voters. 

The Hungarians were also called upon to answer four questions in connection with the recent law prohibiting to discuss with those under 18 "sex change and homosexuality".

An "unhealthy" referendum for the NGOs which had asked voters to "invalidate" their ballots by ticking two boxes instead of one.

The results are expected later in the evening.

With AFP

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