Hungary election day don start, and e dey hot like fire. Viktor Orban, wey don be Prime Minister since 2010, dey face real threat to lose power for the first time. The opposition Tisa party, under Peter Magyar, dey lead for social polls, but nobody fit predict wetin go happen because of complex electoral system and record turnout wey dey happen.
Polling stations open by 6 a.m. Budapest time, and voters go dey vote until 7 p.m. Dem go vote for candidate for single-mandate district and for party. Five parties dey contest, but the main fight na between Orban Fidesz and Magyar Tisa. Only the far-right Our Fatherland (Mi Hazánk) get chance to pass the five-percent barrier for enter parliament, according to polls.
Turnout figures dey show high civic activity. By 7:00 a.m., about 3.46% of voters (260,556 people) don cast their ballots. This one almost double wetin happen four years ago. For 2022 election, final turnout reach 70.21%. Hungarian media report say for some places, people dey line up even before polling stations open.
Viktor Orban cast his vote for Budapest single-mandate constituency 4 and give short press conference. He call the day “celebration of democracy” and talk say Hungarian electoral system na the most reliable for Europe. Orban talk say if he win, he go thank his supporters first, but if Peter Magyar get more votes, he go accept am and congratulate am.
Peter Magyar cast his vote around 8:30 a.m. He talk say record turnout dey expected and even one or two votes fit count for some polling stations. Magyar talk say about 60 reports don dey for Tisa election fraud website, and he call on authorities to do their job according to oath of office.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó don vote with his wife and write say he vote for Fidesz party. For abroad, Hungarians dey show high activity. For Stuttgart, Germany, voters stand in line. For The Hague, Netherlands, about 150 people dey wait by 6:00 a.m.
Hungary electoral system na one of the most complex for Europe. E mixed, but with strong bias toward majoritarian component. 106 mandates go share for single-mandate districts, where winner take all. 93 mandates go share for nationwide party lists. To enter parliament, party need pass 5% barrier.
Unique feature na say votes wey no bring mandate go add to party national list result for losing candidates. Winner also get bonus: extra votes (difference between his result and second place plus one vote) go add to his party “piggy bank” for national list. This one help the race leader to go further from pursuers.
Independent opinion polls predict landslide victory for Tisa, but centers close to government suggest Orban party go retain parliamentary majority. Votes go count according to Hungarian law no later than Saturday, April 18. The day dey tense, and Europe dey watch closely as Hungary decide its future path.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
