Hungarian Opposition Negotiations Falter in Boost to Orban

Hungarian opposition parties remained divided after talks on a common strategy faltered with three weeks to go before parliamentary elections. Hungarian opposition parties remained divided after talks on a common strategy faltered with three weeks to go before parliamentary elections, boosting Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chances of clinching a third consecutive term. A late night meet-up at a highway filling station between the leaders of the centrist Lehet Mas a Politika, or LMP, and the right-wing Jobbik failed to produce a comprehensive deal to field joint candidates in the April 8 parliamentary ballot, the parties said on Tuesday. That had been seen as the best way to counter the supremacy of Orban’s Fidesz, whose backing is roughly equal to the entire opposition combined. LMP has also held talks with left-wing parties on a potential alliance, which also failed to produce a breakthrough.