Related: Hungary kicks off general elections

    BUDAPEST, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian governing Socialist party (MSZP) finished the first round of elections with a slight lead over their main rival, the Fidesz party, as 97.34 percent of the ballots were counted before the midnight of Sunday.

    The MSZP took 43.30 percent of votes while Fidesz garnered 42.16 percent, the National Election Office said. The liberal Free Democrats, the junior coalition partner, scored 6.25 percent and the conservative Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) got 5.03 percent.

    Both of the smaller parties exceeded the 5-percent threshold needed to enter parliament.

    A senior official of the opposition Fidesz party on Sunday congratulated the MDF on making its way into parliament in the election.

    Fidesz would initiate coalition negotiations with the MDF, so that they could replace the socialist-liberal government, he said.

    The results of Sunday's poll were valid because more than half of eligible voters had cast their ballots in all the 20 regions of the country, according to the National Election Office.

    The second and decisive round will be held on April 23. The winning party must poll a majority in both rounds. Failing this, a third round has to be held between the two leading parties. Enditem