With 99 percent of votes counted, Fidesz was far ahead with 52.77 percent.

Whether it might secure a two-thirds majority in parliament, which would allow it to make constitutional changes, will depend however on a second round vote to be held on April 25.

Fidesz will in any case hold 206 of the 386 seats in parliament after the first round, in which 265 seats were up for grabs.

This means a likely return to power for Fidesz's charismatic leader Viktor Orban, who was already Prime Minister between 1998 and 2002, after eight years in opposition.

"This victory is Hungary's victory," Orban said after the result was announced.

The voters "chose Hungary's union, security and order... They voted for Hungary and the future," he added.

The far-right Jobbik party meanwhile gained entry into parliament for the first time after winning 16.71 percent of votes, even better than its surprising 15 percent in European elections last year.

"Jobbik attained a good result. We will represent the nation's interest in parliament," said Zoltan Balczo, a European deputy for Jobbik.

Despite some predictions, the far-right party did not succeed however in overtaking the ruling Socialists, who finished second with 19.29 percent of votes.

Jobbik, which was founded in 2003, is known for its anti-Semitic, anti-Roma rhetoric and has often railed against what it sees as typical "Roma crimes".

After eight years in power, the Socialist Party (MSZP) was the big loser on Sunday, having suffered a major drop in popularity since the last elections in 2006, when it narrowly defeated Fidesz by 43.21 to 42.03 percent.

But Socialist leader Ildiko Lendai refused to admit defeat.

"We will defend our voters and we will fight for them not to be considered as second-rank citizens, as the next (parliamentary) cycle's strongest opposition party," she said.

The new left-wing green party LMP surpassed expectations, also gaining its first seats in parliament after winning 7.42 percent of votes, well above the five-percent threshold needed.

Turnout was slightly lower than expected at 64.29 percent, down three points from 67.83 percent in the first round of general elections in 2006.

Results were delayed Sunday after the national election commission decided to keep polling stations open well past the intended closing time to allow latecomers to cast their ballots, drawing criticism from observers and the political parties.

One of the countries worst hit by the global economic crisis in 2008, Hungary escaped bankruptcy thanks to a 20-billion-euro (26.7-billion-dollar) bailout from the IMF, the World Bank and the EU.

Eighteen months later, the country is slowly emerging from the slump, thanks to the Socialist government's rigorous budgetary programme.

But measures like tax hikes and salary and pension cuts made the government unpopular, which may have prompted Hungarians to vote to the right.

Orban acknowledged after the results were announced that he faces a mammoth task.

"I am aware that I face a huge challenge and I will need the help of each Hungarian citizens," he said.

The charismatic Orban had promised during his campaign to create one million new jobs over 10 years in the country of 10 million people and pledged significant tax cuts to relaunch the economy.

Orban, a founding member of Fidesz and Europe's youngest prime minister when he first came to power at the age of 35, was a former liberal anti-communist dissident. But he nevertheless likes to speak "for the people" or "the nation" and fervently opposes globalisation.

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