- Title: HUNGARY: SOCIALIST OPPOSITION PARTY WIN FIRST ROUND OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS
- Date: 9th April 2002
- Summary: (W1) BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (APRIL 7-8, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SLV SOCIALIST PARTY CANDIDATE PETER MEDGYESSY ENTERING SOCIALIST PARTY HEADQUARTERS, GREETING SUPPORTERS; MV MEDGYESSY GETTING ONTO STAGE, SUPPORTERS CHEERING; SLV PETER MEDGYESSY AND SOCIALIST PARTY PRESIDENT LASZLO KOVACS TOGETHER ON STAGE; SLV JUBILANT SUPPORTERS (9 SHOTS) 0.56 2. SOUNDBITE (Hungarian) MEDGYESSY ADDRESSING SUPPORTERS, SAYING "I am sure that on the 21st (April) even more people will vote for us because it became clear today that there is nothing to be afraid of." 1.07 3. MV AUDIENCE CHEER; MV MEDGYESSY AND KOVACS ON STAGE WITH ARMS RAISED IN VICTORY SALUTE; SLV CROWD OF SUPPORTERS APPLAUDING, CHEERING; MV MEDGYESSY AND KOVACS LEAVING ROOM SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS; SLV EXTERIOR SOCIALIST PARTY HEADQUARTERS (5 SHOTS) 1.40 4. SLV EXTERIOR OF MILLENNIUM PARK CULTURAL CENTRE WHERE FIDESZ CONSERVATIVE ALLIANCE SUPPORTERS GATHERED TO WAIT FOR RESULTS; MV SUPPORTERS WATCHING AT SCREEN AS RESULTS COMING IN 1.45 5. SCU FIDESZ SUPPORTERS BOOING AND WHISTLING AS THEY WATCH SOCIALIST PARTY CANDIDATE ON SCREEN 1.51 6. SOUNDBITE (Hungarian) VIKTOR ORBAN ADDRESSING SUPPORTERS FROM STAGE INSIDE, SAYING "Our task is to establish clearly what we have learned from this, make a conclusion and then decide what we are going to do in the next two weeks." 2.06 6. SLV SUPPORTERS CHEERING 2.12 7. SLV EXTERIOR OF BOAT RESTAURANT ON DANUBE WHERE FAR-RIGHT WITH FAR-RIGHT LIFE AND JUSTICE PARTY (MIEP) BANNER; MV SUPPORTERS WATCHING RESULTS ON SCREEN INSIDE BOAT RESTAURANT (3 SHOTS) 2.28 8. SCU FAR-RIGHT LIFE AND JUSTICE LEADER ISTVAN CSURKA WATCHING RESULTS ON TELEVISION; HAS PEOPLE WAITING (2 SHOTS) 2.42 9. SOUNDBITE (HUNGARIAN) ISTVAN CSURKA COMMENTING ON RESULTS, SAYING "We will be watching our opponents who are now rejoicing at our failure. I don't think this will be the final result though but one has to endure whatever comes." 3.06 10. SLV ISTVAN CSURKA SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS 3.10 11. SOUNDBITE (Hungarian) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING "It's sad. We are totally devoted Fidesz voters. We hope in the next two weeks the situation improves and it reverses." 3.24 12. SOUNDBITE (Hungarian) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN SAYING "I hope in two weeks the result will be better. This one could have been better too." 3.35 13. SOUNDBITE (English) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING "They (the right wing) are quite shocked just as we were four years ago. I hope they will celebrate with us the next four years because in the previous four years they divided the people into two groups." 3.55 14. SLV COUPLE LOOKING AT AN EMPTY STAGE WITH FIDESZ ELECTION POSTER 4.01 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 24th April 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- Country: Hungary
- Reuters ID: LVA3OHJQWHYOLPSZPIHQ2BRRFNJG
- Story Text: Hungary's Socialist opposition won a tight first round
of national elections in a vote that appeared to ease fears
that the far-right could hold the balance of power as the
country nears European Union entry.
The Socialists having won a first round of voting in
the early hours of Monday (April 8, 2002), led by ex-communist
finance minister Peter Medgyessy, look well placed to form a
new majority centre-left government after a second vote due on
April 21, 2002.
With over 95 percent of all votes counted, from a record
turnout of over 71 percent -- the Socialists had polled 41.24
percent against 40.33 percent for Prime Minister Viktor
Orban's conservative Fidesz alliance.
The extreme right Justice & Life Party (MIEP), which
financial markets and EU diplomats had feared could give Orban
a lifeline to form a controversial and unprecedented second
centre-right term, polled 4.43 percent, below a five percent
threshold needed to gain entry into Parliament.
Struggling to make himself heard over the raucous din at
the Socialist Party headquarters, Medgyessy celebrated with
his supporters.
"I am sure that on the 21st (April) even more people will
vote for us because it became clear today that there is
nothing to be afraid of," Medgyessy said.
Support for Orban's Fidesz looked earlier to have surged
ahead of Sundays first round vote, chalking up a 10 percentage
point lead over the Socialists in opinion polls.
Even after voting ended, the ruling Fidesz was shown
several points ahead, but the lead was whittled away as the
leftist vote swept in from across the country, most noticeably
in the capital Budapest, thought to have been a Fidesz
stronghold.
The vote was seen as a stern test of Orban's growing
nationalist tone which had stirred ethnic tensions in the
region and prompted concern in the EU and on financial
markets.
Hungary had to cede two-thirds of its territory and around
a third of its people to neighbouring states after it was on
the losing side in World War One, a humiliation that still
rankles.
Orban, 38 and seeking to become Hungary's first premier
since the 1989 fall of communism to win re-election, has
called in his campaign for the reunification of the nation
across the borders.
Rallying the party faithful late on Sunday, Orban urged
them to fight on into the second round, reminding party staff
that the Socialists led by four points after the first round
in 1998, and lost.
"Our task now is to establish clearly what we have learned
from this, make a conclusion and then decide what we are going
to do in the next two weeks," he said.
With little to choose between the two main blocs on the
main policy issues, the vote was more on style than substance.
Both major parties have promised lower taxes, higher
wages, more jobs and houses and urgent healthcare and pension
reforms. Both would prioritise Hungary's smooth EU accession.
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