Hungarian election results confirm support for the Government coalition

5.47.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 24th Apr 2006

Graham Watson MEP, leader of the European Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament congratulated his Hungarian party colleagues today on the solid performance in the recent election which re-confirmed the ruling coalition government of Socialists and Liberals.

"Not only is this the first time that a Hungarian government has been re-elected since the restoration of democracy in 1990, but also the first time that a junior coalition partner increases its share of the vote", said Watson.

"I am proud of the work of my Hungarian Liberal colleagues in working to bring about reform and raise standards of living in their country as an integral part of the European Union. As part of a wider Union, the newly confirmed Hungarian administration must also tackle its spiralling deficit which will threaten future economic growth and stability as well as delay membership of the core euro-zone," he added.

István Szent-Iványi, MEP (Hungary SZDSZ) also reacted to the results in his country:

"The Hungarian voters again supported political parties with a clear commitment towards European integration. For the first time since 1990, the Hungarian Liberals managed to increase their support among the electorate as compared to the previous elections. Both coalition parties are well aware that the consolidation of the budgetary situation is one of the major tasks ahead of the new Government, and are ready to tackle the issue without undue delay."

The Socialists (MSZP) and the Alliance of Free Democrats (the Hungarian Liberal party, SZDSZ) increased their majority from 198 to 210 seats in the 386-member chamber on Sunday in the second round of the general elections, according to projections shown by the election commission. Although increasing their vote by 1% compared to 2002, the Hungarian Liberals share of seats in the Hungarian Parliament remained the same (20) due to the peculiarities of the Hungarian election system.