Observers: No major violations reported in Hungary’s parliamentary elections as of noon

As of noon, no significant violations have been reported during the parliamentary elections in Hungary.

This was reported to Ukrinform by MP Serhii Alekseev, who is serving as an OSCE observer at the parliamentary elections in Hungary.

According to him, a total of four MPs from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine are serving as observers at the parliamentary elections in Hungary—two each under the mandates of the OSCE and PACE.

“We are currently working in Budapest itself and in the suburban areas. As of noon, voter turnout was 20%. As of lunchtime, no significant violations have been recorded during the elections. It is expected that the main voter turnout will occur after lunch, closer to the evening,” Alekseev noted.

“We understand that cities support Madiar’s ‘Tysa’ party, while in rural districts there is some support for Orbán, although Magyar’s party is in the lead. Ninety-three deputies are elected in the nationwide constituency, and 106 in single-member districts. This is where the fierce battle will take place,” the MP emphasized.

Alekseev added that he and other Ukrainian MPs will observe the vote count at one of the polling stations in Budapest once it closes.

As reported by Ukrinform, parliamentary elections began in Hungary on Sunday, April 12. Polling stations across the country opened at 6 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m.

Hungary has a complex electoral system: of the 199 seats in parliament, 106 are elected by direct vote in single-member districts, while the remaining 93 seats are allocated based on party lists, for which both Hungarians abroad and those in the country can vote. Under Hungary’s electoral system, votes cast for candidates in single-member districts who do not win are not lost. They are automatically added to the result of the corresponding party on the national list.

There is also a “winner’s bonus” (a rule introduced by Viktor Orbán’s reform in 2011)—if a party’s candidate wins a district by a large margin, the “surplus” votes (those exceeding the number of votes cast for the opponent who came in second, +1 vote) are also added to the party’s national list.

Previously, “surplus votes” often gave an advantage to the Fidesz party.

Parties must receive 5% of the vote at the national level to enter parliament.

Photo: AA