Hungary's Orban says opposition now 'serious challenge'

Budapest: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned Friday that opposition parties, buoyed by a shock by-election win, are now a "serious challenge" to his ruling rightwing Fidesz party.

He also doubled down on his main campaign theme ahead of a general election next month, saying that the opposition could turn Hungary into a "country of immigration" if he loses.

Polls had given the fiercely anti-immigration Fidesz party a lead of around 30 percentage points over its nearest rival.