EU Vote Shows Hungary's Orban Losing Support

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party was on track for its worst result in a national or EU vote in nearly two decades at the recently concluded European Parliament election, where a political newcomer trounced all other opposition parties, Anita Komuves and Gergely Szakacs reported for Reuters.

Orban declared victory, saying that the results showed Hungarian democracy was alive and well.

In power since 2010, the veteran nationalist Orban has grappled with multiple crises over the past months as a sex abuse scandal brought down two of his key allies, just as Hungary was emerging from the worst inflationary surge in the EU.

Initial results projected Orban's Fidesz and its small Christian Democrat allies winning 11 seats in the European Parliament with 44.2% of votes, down from a combined 13 seats prior to Sunday's vote.

The tally showed Peter Magyar's right-of-center Tisza coming second with seven seats at 30% of votes, more than all other opposition parties combined, and a better outcome than any of the polls leading up to the election forecast.

Speaking to supporters, Orban said the results showed Hungarian democracy was alive and well, declaring victory.