Local government elections have been held for the seventh time since the change of regime in Hungary. Electors had a chance to cast votes for mayoral candidates as well as for candidates on the boards of county and local municipalities, while residents in the capital elected a mayor for the city of Budapest. National minority electors also voted for the members of national minority self-governments on the day of the local elections. Instead of the former four years, the current mandate of the elected officials will now extend to a period of five years.

Based on the non-final data of the National Election Office (NVI), the mayoral candidates of the Fidesz-KDNP party alliance won in the vast majority of county-ranked cities, and the party alliance also obtained a majority in all county general assemblies.

Fidesz-KDNP won in 17 out of the 23 districts in Budapest, and in 19 out of the 23 county-ranked cities. In addition to the Mayor of Budapest, 20 representatives of the governing party, 10 left-wing representatives, and 1 representative each for Jobbik and LMP will work in the Metropolitan General Assembly comprised of 33 members in total.

András Patyi, President of the National Election Commission (NVB) said after the closing of the polling stations that no irregularity came to the attention of either NVB or the National Election Office (NVI) that could call the legality of the Sunday elections and the fairness of the would-be final results into question.

Ilona Pálffy, President of NVI said that the establishment of the final results of the municipal elections may take as long as until 10 November if the candidates and nominating organisations avail themselves of all legal remedies at their disposal.

(Government, NVI)