parliamentary elections since it joined the European Union in 2004, official results showed late Sunday, April 23.
There were scenes of celebrations at the packed Budapest headquarters of the ruling Hungarian Socialist Party which made history as for the first time since the demise of Communism in 1989 a Hungarian government has been re-elected.
Election officials said the Socialists and its junior liberal coalition partner Alliance of Free Democrats were expected to have around 210 seats in the 386-member parliament.
The main center right opposition party Fidesz and the smaller right-wing Hungarian Democratic Forum Party reportedly have 175. As soon as the results became known, Fidesz leader Viktor Orban acknowledged defeat and congratulated Socialist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
"It has been a tradition in this country to congratulate the winner, so that’s what we do," said a visible shaken Orban in a short speech to supporters broadcast live on national television.
The results came as a setback for 42-year old Orban, a former prime minister and sworn
anti-Communist who as a young man openly called for Soviet troops to withdraw from Hungary
in 1989.
FORMER PERSECUTORS
His party finds it difficult to comprehend that a majority of voters in this mainly Catholic nation turned their back to the past and even re-elected the party that succeeded the Communist Party, which oversaw persecution of Christians, dissidents and others deemed dangerous for the regime.
However Gyurcsany has told his supporters that his party is a far cry from the old days. He said his administration would create a more equal society amid concerns over social tensions in Hungary, which joined the European Union two years ago.
"I believe in Hungary [and] I believe that we can build up a Hungary that will be open for everyone and where it doesn’t matter where you are born in a small village or a town," he said on loud applause. "We want to create a country where it is worthwhile to work and where you can get rich by using your talents and hard work," Gyurcsany added.
The 44-year old Gyurcsany, a former Communist who became a self-made millionaire before returning to politics, considers British Prime Minister Tony Blair his political mentor.
EMBRACING GLOBALIZATION
Gyurcsany’s left wing coalition has made clear it wants to embrace globalization and free market reforms while fighting for social justice. While Western investors welcome the pro-business rhetoric of the Socialists, there is growing concern over the ballooning budget deficit which stood at around six percent of gross domestic product in 2006.
The deficit is the highest within the European Union and is a threat to Hungary’s plans to meet the requirements to introduce the euro currency in 2010, analysts say.
Sunday’s celebrations were expected to be short-lived as liberal politicians have already spoken off massive lay-offs among state workers and other tough social measures to reduce both the budget deficit and improve Hungary’s competitiveness.
The period leading up to the elections has been overshadowed by bitter campaigns between the rivals. "It even touches personal lives," said a 46-year old teacher and Liberal voter, who identified herself as Anna. "People attack each other for their political views or believes. Even Families break up because of the tensions," Anna explained as she quickly moved out of sight of a curious reporter. (With BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos and BosNewsLife Research).
