Polling stations in Hungary close

Hungarians voted on April 3 in parliamentary elections, the biggest challenge for Prime Minister Viktor Orban in 12 years.

Unlike in previous elections, the Hungarian opposition has joined a coalition aimed at ousting Orban and his Fidesz party.

Polls say Fidesz and his partners have a narrow lead over the six opposition parties that have come together.

In these elections, 8 million people had the right to vote, but a significant part of the electorate, in the last days of the campaign, was declared undecided.

The close race raises concerns that Orban will not respect holding fair elections.

In an unprecedented move for European Union countries, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has deployed an election monitoring mission, following concerns that there could be vote rigging and the use of state resources that would give it a run for its money. unfair advantage to the ruling party.

Meanwhile, domestic issues remained in the shadows during the campaign, which was dominated by the war in Ukraine, a country bordering Hungary.

Although Orban has generally backed Ukraine, he has refused to allow NATO weapons to be transferred through his country to Ukraine, saying Hungary should stay out of the war.

That message, according to opposition leader Peter Marki-Zay, made the April 3 vote simple:

“The question is clear: [Presidenti rus, Vladimir] “Putin or Europe.”

Marki-Zay, 49, during an interview with the Hungarian Service of Radio Free Europe, called Orban a “traitor” who, according to him, is putting the Hungarians in danger.

“I continue to say that we should stop Putin, not Brussels. “Let us be on the right side of history only once, let us be on the side of victory only once,” he said.

Orban, meanwhile, has used the struggle to mix conservatism and nationalism, which he has allowed the government in the last 12 years, with the so-called super-majority in Parliament, as he has had at least two-thirds of the seats allowing Fidesz to make changes without the need for opposition votes.

During a rally on April 1, Orban warned that a victory for the opposition would send weapons to Ukraine “the next day” and cut off energy imports from Russia, which he said would hurt the Hungarians and the country’s economy. .

He also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has criticized the Hungarian government for its ties to Moscow.

“Elections are always important, but with the war and the possibility of an economic crisis in Europe, the risk is higher than ever,” Orban told Radio Kossuth on April 1.

In addition to the general election, Hungarians on April 3 also vote in the referendum on LGBTQ community issues, after Hungary voted on a law last year that was considered homophobic.

The referendum will include questions about the sex education program in schools and access to information for children regarding gender reassignment./REL

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