Opposition right ahead in Hungary vote: exit poll

BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary’s conservative opposition
Fidesz won most votes in the first round of general elections
on Sunday, an exit poll showed.

The poll, carried out by the Tarki Institute at 24 out of
176 constituencies, showed the conservatives won 45 percent of
the vote followed by the ruling Socialists with 43 percent.

The poll showed the Socialists’ junior coalition partners,
the liberal Free Democrats, passed the 5 percent threshold
needed to enter parliament, which analysts had said was key to
the government standing any chance of remaining in power.

The second round of voting, due on April 23, is necessary
under Hungary’s complex election system if no candidate wins an
outright majority in any of the 176 constituencies.