Categories: World

Viktor Orban elected PM of Hungary for 4th term, criticises Zelensky in victory speech

<p>
Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has won a fourth term by an overwhelming majority in the country's general election with most of the votes being counted.</p>
<p>
His right-wing Fidesz party had 53.1% of votes with 98% counted. The opposition alliance led by Peter Marki-Zay was far behind with 35%.</p>
<p>
In his victory speech, Mr Orban, 58, criticised Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Brussels bureaucrats calling them "opponents".</p>
<p>
Mr Zelensky has repeatedly criticised Mr Orban's ban on the transfer of arms to Ukraine, with which it shares a border.</p>
<p>
However, Mr Orban, who also has close ties with Moscow, has condemned the Russian invasion, and taken in half a million refugees since the war began in February.</p>
<p>
"We never had so many opponents," AFP cited him as saying. "Brussels bureaucrats… the international mainstream media, and the Ukrainian president."</p>
<p>
Mr Orban added that his "huge victory" could be seen "from the Moon, but certainly from Brussels as well".</p>
<p>
Hungary's leader has repeatedly clashed with Brussels over rule of law issues such as press freedom and migration.</p>
<p>
According to a BBC report, they've fallen out over Moscow too. Mr Orban is famed for his warm relations with Vladimir Putin. He signed up to Western sanctions – but refuses to supply Ukraine with weapons. He's the only EU leader to openly criticise President Zelensky.</p>
<p>
Ukraine borders Hungary, and around 400,000 refugees have fled here since Russia's forces invaded.</p>
<p>
But Orban said Hungary should keep out of the conflict itself – a war, he said, between two giant countries that is too dangerous.</p>
<p>
Orban's entourage accused Vlodymyr Zelensky of forming a "pact" with the Hungarian opposition to drag Hungarian soldiers into the war with Russia, BBC reported.</p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

‘Political space given to extremist forces’: EAM Jaishankar on attacks on Hindu temples in Canada

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar expressed concerns about the recent attacks on the Hindu temples…

19 mins ago

Coast Guard Chief S Paramesh calls on Navy Chief Admiral, deliberates on ICG’s operational readiness

Indian Coast Guard Chief Director General S Paramesh has called on Indian Navy Chief Admiral…

32 mins ago

North Korea launches short-range ballistic missiles ahead of US elections

Just a few hours ahead of the presidential polls in the United States, North Korea…

42 mins ago

Brampton: Thousands take out solidarity rally against attacks on Hindu temples in Canada

Over a thousand Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Canada on…

2 hours ago

Jaishankar meets Australian counterpart Penny Wong for Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue in Canberra

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was welcomed by Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, at the…

2 hours ago

Israel targets Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Syria

Israel on Monday targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters in Syria. Sharing a post on X, the…

2 hours ago