Fidesz candidate wins NE Hungary by-election

The candidate of ruling Fidesz, Zsofia Koncz, won the by-elections in Szerencs, northeast Hungary, late on Sunday. Prime Minister Viktor Orban congratulated Koncz on Facebook, who secured her parliamentary seat against Laszlo Biro, a Jobbik politician fielded jointly by the opposition parties. Jobbik said after the election that Biro had "achieved much with an honest and fair campaign while the lies and defamatory agitation of the government propaganda machine kept [the voters] under constant pressure." Fidesz lawmaker Lajos Kosa said the campaign had shown that "the joint left wing ... would do anything for money and power," and that voters "do not want the mixed platter offered by [Democratic Coalition head Ferenc] Gyurcsany."