Hungary's centre right leaders laid plans yesterday to unseat the ruling Socialists, after a first-round vote put them within striking distance of government and brought the extreme right to parliament.
Sunday's vote in Hungary's complicated two-round system radically changed the political landscape, consolidating the right-wing vote around a handful of parties and undercutting the Prime Minister, Mr Gyula Horn, whose Socialists, nevertheless, remained the largest party.
"This is a substantial advance for the right wing," said Mr Tibor Vidos, a political analyst.
Mr Viktor Orban, president of the Fidesz Hungarian Civic Party which came second, said he would withdraw Fidesz candidates from constituencies where candidates of the third-placed Independent Smallholders did better in round one.
"We have announced that we unilaterally withdraw our candidates," Mr Orban said, revealing the move which would give a boost to right-wing efforts to form a government after the second round of elections on May 24th.
The Smallholders' leader, Mr Jozsef Torgyan, said the right wing was now the power to be reckoned with in Hungarian politics.
"The results have shown that the Smallholders have continued to strengthen," he said. "We will sit down with Fidesz and discuss the opportunities for a coalition." With 99.97 of the first round vote counted, the National Election Committee (NEC) said the Socialists had won 32.25 per cent, Fidesz 28.20 per cent, and the Smallholders 13.76 per cent.
The Socialists' coalition partners, the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), slumped to 7.88 per cent while the extreme right-wing MIEP took 5.55 percent, enough to enter parliament.
The figures include two counties out of the total 20 whose vote will be invalidated and the first round rerun as the turnout was below 50 per cent.
The NEC said it could not at this stage separate the results of the two counties from the overall vote.
The total turnout was 56.25 per cent. The official results will be announced tomorrow.
Under Hungary's complex system, it was impossible to tell exactly how many deputies any party would have until after the second round. Some analysts said about 200 of the 386 seats had been filled but an exact breakdown was not available.
A subdued Mr Horn said he thought the Socialists and the Free Democrats who have governed for the past four years could stay in power, despite the Free Democrats' poor showing.
The Socialists had campaigned on their record of reviving Hungary's economy, and of seeking European Union and NATO membership.)