Thousands protest in Budapest against Viktor Orban and demand new elections

Opponents of the right-wing Fidesz party say Hungary's electoral rules give it unfair power in parliament

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters marched through the Hungarian capital Budapest, demanding a new election and a new national electoral system, in the biggest opposition rally in years.

Opposition supporters are angry that Hungary's electoral rules have given prime minister Viktor Orban's party a super-majority in parliament when it only won around half the vote in last week's election.

Mr Orban was re-elected for a fourth term last week, and preliminary results show that his right-wing populist Fidesz party and its tiny ally the Christian Democratic party together won 134 seats in the 199-seat legislature.

Protesters in Budapest last night shouted "We are the majority" (Laszlo Balogh/Getty Images)

While the left-wing opposition parties won 12 of the 18 seats at stake in Budapest districts, Fidesz won 85 of 88 seats outside the capital. Another 93 seats were allocated based on votes for party lists.

Protesters marched from the Opera to parliament, shouting “New elections!” and “We are the majority!”

The size of the crowd, overflowing from the city's Kossuth Square outside parliament, rivalled the pro-government peace march held on 15 March. Organisers said another anti-government protest would be held next weekend.

“We want new and fair elections,” opposition activist Gergely Gulyas told the huge crowd. “This is the responsibility of the government and we're going to remind them of this, peacefully and massively.”

Mr Orban, whose campaign focused on the demonisation of migrants, has promised “significant changes” in his next government, which could push for a constitutional amendment against migration.

He claims that opposition parties want to turn Hungary into an “immigrant nation” with the help of the European Union, the United Nations and Hungarian-American billionaire and philanthropist George Soros.

Opposition members deny the claim.

Associated Press