Orbán Secures Third Term in Hungary With Landslide Victory

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán won a landslide victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections, securing him a third consecutive term in office. With 93% of the votes counted, Orbán and his Fidesz party are expected to have 133 of 199 seats in Parliament, with the possibility of gaining a “supermajority” of two-thirds of the vote, which would allow for constitutional changes, very real indeed. 

In his victory speech, the Prime Minister said that the result gave Hungarians “the opportunity to defend themselves and to defend Hungary.” 

Leaders of the second and third-placed parties have resigned. The nationalist Jobbik party came second with 20% of the vote, with the Socialists third with 12%, and the LMP, Hungary's main Green Party, fourth with 7%.

By Mate Foldi

Photograph: Leonhard Foeger/Reuters