Hungary’s strongman prime minister has lost control of the city of Budapest in one of the most serious setbacks for his party since it came to power nine years ago. A grand opposition alliance won the capital and several other large cities as Viktor Orban’s rivals overcame their squabbles and fielded joint candidates in yesterday’s local elections. It was the first time that Mr Orban, 56, had faced a united front at the ballot box after nearly a decade of political dominance. Since 2010 his ultra-conservative party, Fidesz, has rewritten electoral rules and tamed much of the country’s media, acquiring a stranglehold over the institutions of government. It won 51 per cent of the vote at the European elections in May.

Source: The Times October 13, 2019 23:37 UTC