Instant View: Hungary’s Fidesz wins 2/3 in next parliament

(Reuters) – Hungary’s center-right Fidesz party secured more than two thirds of parliamentary seats in Sunday’s second round of voting, according to preliminary figures from the National Election Committee.

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ANALYST COMMENTS

GERGELY SUPPAN, TAKAREKBANK

“In the near term markets can give a vote of confidence in the new government but they will have to come out with their plans rather quickly.

“We may see some specific measures already in the days ahead. Some things have already leaked between the two rounds, on the basis of these it is likely that they are serious about halving the number of local government and parliament MPs.

“They apparently also want to clamp down of bureaucracy, but this will take more than one day.

“All this has to be seen against the backdrop that room for maneuver is limited so they will obviously make a push to make it larger, therefore they will pledge to eradicate corruption.

“I think they will come to agreement with the IMF quickly as they have already held consultations.

“Among analysts it is a rather widespread view that they will offer reforms in exchange for bigger room for maneuver, the question is what time frame we are looking at and when they can start.

“There are about 8,000-9,000 tasks performed by the state, they will take more than one day to halve, this is a process that requires months, maybe even years.

“If they start (reforms) quickly, that can trigger a positive market reaction in the longer run as well.

“Near term, there will be a vote of confidence in the new government and then the market will blend into the global environment, it will be driven by themes of Greece and the global recovery.

“If they act quickly, the forint can firm a bit but it must be said that this result was by and large priced in already.”

(Reporting by Sandor Peto)

Hungary’s Orban declares victory, sees challenge

BUDAPEST, April 11 (Reuters) – Hungary’s next prime minister Viktor Orban declared election victory for his centre-right Fidesz and said Hungarians had voted on Sunday to “defeat hopelessness”.

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“Hungarians voted on Hungary and Hungary’s future. Today Hungary’s citizens have defeated hopelessness,” he told party supporters.

“I feel it with all my nerves and know it deep in my heart that I face the biggest task of my life. I will need all the Hungarian people to solve that.” (Reporting by Sandor Peto)

Fidesz seen winning Hungary election-pollsters

BUDAPEST, April 11 (Reuters) – Hungarian centre-right party Fidesz is likely to win 54 percent of party list votes in Sunday’s election, the Socialists 20 percent, and Jobbik 17 based on a poll by Nezopont institute conducted on Sunday.

According to an opinion poll by pollster Median conducted on April 9-10 and published on Sunday, Fidesz could garner 55 percent of the party votes.

This is seen giving the party 270 seats after the second round on April 25 in the pollster’s estimate, Median managing director Endre Hann told Reuters.

That would give Fidesz a two-thirds majority in the next parliament.

Hann said the ruling Socialists could get 19 percent of the party votes, which could yield 55 seats. Median projects 17 percent vote and 49 seats for far-right Jobbik, while green liberal LMP party could get 6 percent and 12 seats. (Reporting by Sandor Peto)