Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar addressed supporters after polls closed in Hungary’s parliamentary elections, calling for calm and patience while results are tallied.
Magyar’s Initial Reaction and Call for Patience
Péter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party, expressed cautious optimism following the closure of polling stations in Hungary’s parliamentary elections on Sunday. He urged Hungarians to remain patient as the vote count proceeds.
“We are cautiously optimistic, but please be patient,” Magyar stated. “I don’t want to win polls, but I want to win elections. Let’s wait for the results.”
Hope for a “Free Hungary”
Magyar declared that April 12th marks a significant moment, exactly 23 years after Hungary’s referendum on joining the European Union. He expressed his hope for a positive change in the country’s future.
“Hungary will be free again,” Magyar affirmed, encouraging supporters to remain calm and celebrate only after the results are known.
Allegations of Irregularities and Voter Turnout
Magyar reported that his party had observed “thousands of irregularities” during the course of Sunday’s elections.
By 6:30 PM, voter turnout reached 77.80%, with 5,856,515 people having cast their ballots.
Voting Procedures and Result Timeline
Voting concluded at 7:00 PM, though voters already in line were still permitted to cast their ballots. Hungarian citizens voting within the country were entitled to two votes: one for a candidate in their constituency and another for a party or national minority list.
Voters abroad cast only one vote, for a national party list. Vote counting commenced immediately after the polls closed, with preliminary results expected to be published around 8:00 PM, along with the percentage of votes tallied.