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News in Brief

László Kövér says opposition parties lost the election because they were not combative enough, therefore they will try to draw voters’ attention by “making more noise”

May 22, 2018

The speaker said it is clear that the opposition parties have learnt nothing from their own failure and have not gained any new knowledge about respect for democracy either

Blog

Spiegel’s “one-party state” comment destroys its credibility as independent media

Apr 25, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

The sweeping April 8th victory of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the governing parties in Hungary’s parliamentary elections came as a surprise to many and not only the political opposition. Among those grieving the loss, we find not only opposition candidates but many who otherwise present themselves as impartial – like members of the international press corps.

News in Brief

Government Spokesperson responds to Hungary's critics, slams Washington Post

Apr 24, 2018

Voter turnout in Hungary’s April 8th elections reached 70.2 percent, the highest it’s been since 2002 and more than eight points higher than it was in 2014, Zoltán Kovács highlighted

Blog

Election results are now official, so what happens next?

Apr 19, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

Last Saturday, the National Elections Office published the official results of the April 8 parliamentary elections. With all votes counted and a high 70.22 percent turnout, Prime Minister Orbán has secured a third consecutive two-thirds supermajority in Hungary’s National Assembly. Here’s a quick summary of what’s next.

News in Brief

Government Spokesperson: The events of recent days have made it clear that George Soros is not prepared to accept the result of Hungary's election

Apr 18, 2018

Zoltán Kovács stressed that George Soros is continuing the negotiations aimed at calling into question the outcome of the Hungarian election and collecting allies against the democratically elected Hungarian government and majority

News in Brief

President Áder has called for the new Parliament session to begin on May 8th

Apr 18, 2018

The president asked Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to start talks on forming a government. Under Hungary’s constitution, the president is to call the inaugural session of the country’s new parliament within 30 days after the general election

Blog

Another Orbán Government means economic stability and growth and that makes markets happy

Apr 18, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

If you had a chance to look at the market reaction last week, it seems they’re pleased to see Prime Minister Orbán elected to another term in Hungary.

News in Brief

Hungary's FM: George Soros is intent on having the Hungarian people punished because they didn’t vote for his candidates

Apr 17, 2018

Minister Szijjártó pointed out that if Hungary had an electoral system like the United Kingdom or France, then the ruling party wouldn’t just have a two-thirds majority in Parliament, but a majority of 85 percent

News in Brief Prime Minister

French President Emmanuel Macron leads second wave of world leaders to congratulate PM Orbán on election win

Apr 17, 2018

French President Emmanuel Macron has led a second wave of world leaders to congratulate Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on his election win.

News in Brief

It's official: All the votes have been counted and verified from last Sunday’s general election and Fidesz-KDNP has secured a two-thirds majority

Apr 16, 2018

The ruling party has secured 133 seats in the 199-member National Assembly, followed by the Jobbik party with 26 seats and the Socialist-Párbeszéd electoral alliance with 20 seats

News in Brief

Budapest demonstrations were organized by the Soros network, says Cabinet Chief

Apr 16, 2018

“I know that the opposition parties find this hard to accept,” Antal Rogán said. “Those shouting about fraud haven’t uncovered any errors that they could protest or bring to the election committees. This is nothing more than a political flea circus,” he added

News in Brief

National Review includes a rather compelling account of the ruling Fidesz party’s win in Sunday’s general election

Apr 13, 2018

John O’Sullivan said he was wrong in predicting that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s victory would fall short of a landslide. “For it was a landslide by the most exacting standards — which more or less destroys the arguments of his opponents and critics that his governing Fidesz party could win only through authoritarianism, gerrymandering, and the dominance of the media by Fidesz and its business allies,” he said

News in Brief Prime Minister

More European leaders line up to congratulate PM Orbán on his victory in Sunday’s general election

Apr 13, 2018

EPP President Joseph Paul, EPP Group Leader Manfred Weber, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, German Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and the President of the Bank of China have all sent congratulations to the prime minister

Blog

Five surprising takeaways from Sunday’s parliamentary elections

Apr 13, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

As the dust settles after Sunday’s parliamentary elections, a clearer picture is now emerging of what happened on that extraordinary day. It will take a few days yet before the final results become official, but in the meantime, here are five takeaways from Hungary’s 2018 parliamentary elections.

News in Brief

There will be a new government formed, mostly with new players and a new structure, says minister

Apr 12, 2018

Antal Rogán, the minister heading the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister, said the reshuffle comes amid the government responding to the challenges of migration and the need to protect Hungary’s national sovereignty

News in Brief

Ruling party comms director: Everyone must accept the clear outcome of Sunday’s election

Apr 12, 2018

“Everyone must accept the crystal clear outcome” of the election, the communications director of the ruling party said. “When there’s an outcome the Soros brigade doesn’t like, they attack democracy itself,” he added

News in Brief

Hungary’s new parliament will meet for the first time on May 7th and 8th

Apr 12, 2018

The national assembly will discuss the government’s “Stop Soros!” package on “pro-migration civil groups” and a draft on Hungary’s 2019 budget

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán says voters have made their decision so we must respect their wishes

Apr 11, 2018

The prime minister said there would be “significant changes” in his new government over the next four-year term

News in Brief Prime Minister

Renowned author points to the fact that PM Orbán is the most successful Hungarian politician ever

Apr 11, 2018

Tibor Fischer, author of How to Rule The World, has penned a compelling summary of Sunday’s election and captured the mood of not only the nation but the world

News in Brief Prime Minister

Angela Merkel has led global leaders in congratulating PM Orbán on Sunday's victory

Apr 11, 2018

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy congratualte the prime minister on his third consecutive win

Blog Prime Minister

PM Orbán: ‘Hungarians have stood up for Hungary’s sovereignty’

Apr 11, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

“We won’t preserve this government,” said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, “but form a new one. We won’t just prolong the previous term, but we will open a new chapter.”

News in Brief

Leading credit agency says Fidesz win means strong growth this year

Apr 10, 2018

Fitch Ratings, one of the ‘big three’ credit rating agencies, has said the ruling alliance’s sweeping win will ensure economic policy continuity

News in Brief

Some of the biggest surprises in the results of Sunday’s elections

Apr 10, 2018

On election day, several individual electoral districts delivered landslide victories to Fidesz while bringing surprising defeats to the opposition. Here’s a short rundown.

News in Brief

Entire leadership of Jobbik should step down, says deputy leader

Apr 10, 2018

During Sunday’s election, Jobbik gained only 25 of the 199 seats in Hungary’s next parliament with 19.33 percent of the votes

News in Brief

The two-thirds parliamentary majority for FIDESZ-KDNP just become more likely

Apr 10, 2018

The counting of mail-in ballots from Hungarians living outside of Hungary revealed overwhelming support for Fidesz-KDNP. Winning nearly 95 percent of votes by mail, the governing alliance secured an extra seat in parliament on top of their 133 mandates, according to the latest results.

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Landslide victory proves people want honest and clear speech and to highlight migration problem plaguing Europe

Apr 09, 2018

“Hungary is a country of brave people,” the prime minister said. “This is our continent, this is our homeland, our greater homeland. We love it and we want its future to be just as bright as the successful decades behind us"

News in Brief

PM declares victory in general election

Apr 09, 2018

Fidesz makes history by becoming the first party in Hungary to win three consecutive terms

Blog

PM Orbán declares victory in general election and Fidesz makes history by becoming the first party in Hungary to win three consecutive terms

Apr 09, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

“We have won,” Prime Minister Orbán told a boisterous crowd in downtown Budapest a few minutes ago. "The high turnout left no room for doubts."

News in Brief

Breaking - Hungarian Elections 2018: latest updates

Apr 08, 2018

Stay tuned for regular updates as Hungary's 2018 general elections unfold

News in Brief

WATCH VIDEO: Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács says the high election turnout is really a celebration of democracy

Apr 08, 2018

"Hungarians have sent a clear message that Hungarian democracy is alive and kicking," Zoltán Kovács said

News in Brief

Fidesz group leader says it may very well be the highest turnout ever

Apr 08, 2018

“Hungarian democracy is strong, this is what the high turnout signals. We thank all those who have voted, this way the next government will have strong legitimacy,” Gergely Gulyás, Fidesz group leader, said

News in Brief

Turnout hits 68.13 percent at 18:30

Apr 08, 2018

30 minutes before polls officially close across the country, more than two-thirds of eligible voters have cast their ballots

News in Brief

Turnout remains on record-breaking trajectory: 63.21 percent by 5 p.m.

Apr 08, 2018

According to National Election Office reports nearly two-thirds of eligible voters have already cast their ballots.

News in Brief

53.64 percent, more than 4.2 million voters cast a ballot by 3 p.m.

Apr 08, 2018

With every vote, Hungary moves closer to a record-high turnout.

News in Brief

1 p.m.: Hungarians continue to turn out in large numbers

Apr 08, 2018

According to the National Elections Office, 42.32 percent of Hungarians voted by 1 p.m.

News in Brief

Turnout: 29.93 percent at 11 AM

Apr 08, 2018

According to Hungary’s National Elections Office, 29.23 percent of Hungarians have cast their ballots by 11 a.m.

News in Brief

All you need to know about Hungary’s parliamentary election

Apr 08, 2018

Stay tuned to Abouthungary.hu throughout the day for all the latest and up-to-date election news, LIVE!

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán urges people to stand up for what they believe and vote rather than relying on the polls

Apr 07, 2018

"We have [less than] 48 hours to bring everyone to vote. One voter, two votes. Millions of Hungarians, millions of votes. This is what stands against millions of dollars. And I believe that money cannot triumph over the will of millions of Hungarians,” the prime minister stressed

News in Brief

How will Hungarians vote in tomorrow’s general election?

Apr 07, 2018

We take a snapshot look at why Hungarians will vote in tomorrow's general election

News in Brief

Hungary will not take in a single migrant, says foreign minister

Apr 07, 2018

"Hungary will keep on fighting and the people will decide on April 8th whether Hungary will continue to have an anti-immigration government or will have a pro-immigration government," the foreign minister said

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán warns of the dangers if “Soros’s people” were to be installed in government in Hungary

Apr 06, 2018

The prime minister says Soros organizations have already taken over other countries and there is a real threat to Hungary, and this is what the “Soros Leaks” recordings makes clear

News in Brief

Government Spokesperson says another “Soros Report” is being prepared to blackmail Hungary into resettling migrants

Apr 06, 2018

According to the new regulations, Hungary would have to accept the resettlement of 10,000 migrants-a-year, in addition to which the resettlements would never end

News in Brief

Fidesz group leader: None of the opposition party leaders or prime ministerial candidates are fit to govern Hungary

Apr 06, 2018

Gergely Gulyás says migration is the most important issue in Sunday’s election. He said it’s irreversible, and therefore migration was the key

News in Brief

Hungary's foreign minister says the country's successes must be maintained after Sunday's election

Apr 06, 2018

“The successes achieved during the traditional industrial era must also be maintained following the digital revolution, in the interests of which large corporations that create highly developed technologies must be encouraged to invest in Hungary through tax benefits and funding," Péter Szijjártó said

Blog

Let’s talk about gerrymandering

Apr 06, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

The gerrymandering charge has always been a flimsy argument.

News in Brief

What do the latest polls say?

Apr 06, 2018

The public opinion surveys of all of the major pollsters in Hungary say that the current governing parties are the most likely to prevail this weekend.

News in Brief

Here’s what happens on Election Day

Apr 06, 2018

On Sunday, voting booths open around the country for Hungarians to cast their ballots in Hungary’s parliamentary elections. Here’s a brief rundown of what will happen on Election Day.

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Hungary's capital is one of the safest in the world but one bad decision would render Budapest unrecognizable

Apr 05, 2018

The prime minister said the government regards the security of the Hungarian people as its highest priority because where there is no security there are no investments, no new jobs, no incomes or pensions that hold their value, and there is no growth

News in Brief

Sunday's general election will be the deciding factor in whether Hungary will remain an independent country, says state secretary

Apr 05, 2018

There are many years of work involved in the fact that Hungary is now standing on its own two feet and is not dependent on others. “If the country didn’t have a government for the nation, this would change," Csaba Dömötör said

News in Brief

Sun set to shine over Sunday's general election day

Apr 05, 2018

Forecasts call for sun and highs of 19 degrees celsius on election day

News in Brief

Parliamentary group leader says that building a civic Hungary will remain Fidesz’s key long-term objective

Apr 04, 2018

Gulyás said that if ruling Fidesz fails to garner an absolute majority on April 8th, there will be “chaos after Sunday’s ballot for an unforeseeable period, followed by new elections"

Blog

‘Pardon me, Comrade, this is the verdict’

Apr 03, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

Like Virág in The Witness, they've already reached their verdict on the Orbán Government and every piece of reporting about Hungary has to uphold that verdict

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Sunday's general election is about securing the future of Hungary

Apr 03, 2018

The prime minister said there will either be a national government and Hungary will remain a Hungarian country, or there will be an internationalist government formed in essence by George Soros which would force Hungary into becoming an immigrant country

News in Brief

Government spokesperson: George Soros interferes in the election campaign through NGOs and media outlets

Apr 03, 2018

The government spokesperson described the general election on Sunday as a decisive battle in the struggle against Soros’s organizations. "The people may decide whether Hungary will indeed remain a country of the Hungarian people or that of immigrants," he said

Blog Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Sooner or later the main question in every country will be migration

Mar 28, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

“Sooner or later the main question in every country will be migration,” said PM Orbán, who noted that for the first time since he began calling attention to the challenges of migration, he has begun to see more EU countries devoting serious attention to the issue.

News in Brief

At least 2,000 people from the Soros network are working against Hungary and the prime minister, says government spokesperson

Mar 23, 2018

Zoltán Kovács said the "Soros 2,000" want to interfere in the Hungarian elections and want Hungary to have a pro-immigration government

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Hungary’s demographic problem will be solved through family policy, not through immigration and migrants

Mar 22, 2018

The prime minister said the Hungarian government stands by families and supports families in making the commitment to have and raise children

News in Brief

The ruling Fidesz party remains the runaway leader in the polls

Mar 22, 2018

Reports suggest that PM Orbán’s campaign with a strong anti-immigration focus will secure him a third consecutive term in the April 8th ballot

Blog Prime Minister

PM Orbán addresses crowd of unprecedented numbers: “Our biggest battle is about to begin”

Mar 15, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

“They want to take our country away. Not with the stroke of a pen like they did a hundred years ago in Trianon,” said Prime Minister Orbán in his March 15th address before a crowd estimated in the hundreds of thousands to commemorate the 170th anniversary of Hungary’s 1848 Revolution and War of Independence, “but that we voluntarily hand it over to others in the decades to come.”

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán warns that his government’s achievements over the past eight years are at risk in the upcoming general election

Mar 13, 2018

PM Orbán said the joint success of the government and the people must be protected in the April 8th election

Blog

The Commission’s country report on Hungary: A political report from a political body

Mar 12, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

The European Commission released last week the biannual country report on Hungary. Aside from a few words of praise for the government’s role in Hungary’s economic turnaround, what we find is a disappointing list of old issues and a clear attempt on the part of the Brussels bureaucracy to influence the outcome of Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

Blog Prime Minister

Here’s what we mean when we talk about Orbanomics

Mar 09, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

“I believe in simple things – work, homeland, families,” Prime Minister Orbán said earlier this week in his address to the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce. He then reiterated the four pillars that define Hungary’s economy policies: competitiveness, a workfare society, good demographics and identity-based politics. “All decisions made by this government could fit into these categories.”

News in Brief

Fidesz MP says the government’s stability over the past eight years has given the country a “scientifically and economically demonstrable” competitive advantage

Mar 09, 2018

Gergely Gulyás said that what’s at stake in the April 8 election is whether Hungary’s stability can be preserved through the re-election of the Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance or whether “stability will be replaced by chaos” with the election of a new government

News in Brief

Brussels is interfering in the Hungarian election campaign and is using its country report to help the opposition, claims minister

Mar 08, 2018

The minister of state for Government Communication said the aim of the Brussels report is to place pressure on Hungary and to achieve the downfall of the government and replace it with a “pro-immigration cabinet that is acceptable to Brussels”

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Fidesz belongs to a civic, national and Christian community

Mar 08, 2018

“We must always remember that, from 1956 onwards, generations have fought and worked for Hungary to become a place where Hungarian people can decide on what happens in their homeland: this is called an election,” PM Orbán said

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: the Hungarian people have put the country on a rising, developing path

Mar 05, 2018

The prime minister visited snowy Bicske this weekend to meet with locals and surprise a few residents with an impromptu door knock

News in Brief

János Lázár: The election will decide whether there will be “a government formed by George Soros or by Hungarian people who are against migration”

Mar 05, 2018

Whether Hungary becomes an “immigrant country” or it remains Hungarian is at stake during the April 8th parliamentary election, says government office chief

News in Brief

Survey finds Hungary’s ruling parties maintain lead over the opposition, with 53 percent of decided voters in favor of the Fidesz alliance

Mar 02, 2018

According to a poll by the Századvég Institute, 36 percent of the vote would go to the Fidesz-led alliance

Blog Prime Minister

PM Orbán: ‘If we make the wrong decision, Hungary will become an immigrant country’

Mar 02, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

“If we don’t want to become an immigrant country we’ll have to join our forces and fight this battle together,” said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, adding that with the upcoming elections Hungary’s future is at stake.

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán tops national list of the allied ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat (KDNP) alliance for April 8th election

Mar 01, 2018

Hungarian voters are to elect a 199-member parliament on April 8th. In total, 106 lawmakers will be elected in individual constituencies, and 93 on national lists

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán kicks off election campaign in Eger

Feb 21, 2018

The prime minister said that “Hungary must be saved from becoming a migrant destination” and called on voters to “carefully consider whom they cast their ballot for” on April 8

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán hits the campaign trail to help collect support for Fidesz parliamentary candidate Zsolt Nyitrai

Feb 21, 2018

Unsuspecting members of the public were surprised to see the prime minister standing on their doorstep, but invited him in to listen to the candidates’ pledge for the April 8th election

Blog

Brace yourselves, election season is here

Feb 20, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

Hungary’s parliamentary elections will be held less than seven weeks from today, on April 8th, and we find ourselves up to our eyeballs in election season madness.

Blog

Here’s how Hungary’s electoral system works and why it was changed in 2011

Jan 30, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

President János Áder has set April 8 as the date of Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Our electoral system and the changes made to it back in 2011 are once again generating some conversation – and misinformation – so here’s a brief rundown on how it works and a look back at the changes.

News in Brief

President Áder: Hungary will remain a consistent and predictable player on the international stage regardless of the outcome of the general election

Jan 16, 2018

The president highlighted six areas in which Hungary’s position will remain unchanged after the election regardless of which party wins

News in Brief

Hungary will hold its 2018 parliamentary election on April 8th

Jan 11, 2018

PM Orbán said that his party is prepared to win the 2018 spring general election to benefit the entire nation

News in Brief Prime Minister

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán re-elected chairman of the ruling Fidesz party

Nov 13, 2017

During the 27th congress, the prime minister said the party is prepared to win the 2018 spring general election to benefit the entire nation