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. -News for Sat. 20 April & Sun. 21 April 2002


Opposition Parties Claim Majority in Hungarian Elections


VOA News
21 Apr 2002 21:25 UTC
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Hungary's opposition parties have won the second and final round of national elections (Sunday) giving them a slight majority in parliament. 

Prime Minister Victor Orban has conceded defeat, saying he called the left's candidate for prime minister, Peter Medgyessy, to congratulate him. 

Hungary's election commission reports that with 99 percent of votes counted, the Socialists and the Alliance of Free Democrats won 198 of the parliament's 386 seats. Mr. Orban's Fidezc party took 188 seats. 

Voter turnout was just over 71 percent. 

In first round voting on April 7, the Socialists gained 93 of the 386 seats in parliament against 87 for Fidesz. 

With few major differences between the parties in terms of policy, both promise tax cuts and market-friendly policies to promote economic growth, the campaign has been a contest of contrasting styles. Mr. Orban's four years in power have been marked by continuing economic growth for Hungary. However, his appeals to nationalist sentiment have alienated many voters. 

The newly elected parliament is expected to support Hungary's European Union membership. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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