Fidesz still ahead in polls
May 9th, 2013Commenting on the latest opinion polls, a centrist and a pro-government commentator wonder why the left-wing parties have not managed to increase their support, although a majority of voters are dissatisfied with the current government.
According to Medián’s latest poll, completed before the tobacco concession debate erupted (see BudaPost May 4), Fidesz is supported by 29 per cent of the population of voting age. The MSZP have the support of 13 per cent, followed by Jobbik (11 per cent), Together 2014 (7 per cent), the LMP (2 per cent) and the Democratic Coalition (1 per cent). Interestingly, 54 per cent of the respondents would prefer a new government to be elected in 2014, but one third of whom cannot identify any party they would like to vote for.
The opposition parties still do not seem to realise that they stand no chance of winning in 2014 with their current messages and strategy, Véleményvezér comments. The centrist blogger believes that the left-wing parties are lagging behind Fidesz in terms of popularity because they use slogans which were successful in the past, but which have become hollow since, Véleményvezér contends. The opposition parties’ main claim is that they want to restore democracy, but the polls suggest that Hungarians are not convinced that democratic institutions have been destroyed or threatened by the Orbán government, despite its often unreasonable centralizing efforts, the blogger notes. In an aside, Véleményvezér adds that former PM Gyurcsány’s possible inclusion in the left-wing alliance and the left-wing parties’ uneasiness towards national feeling could also deter many left-leaning voters from supporting an anti-Orbán coalition.
In Magyar Nemzet, János Pelle points out that the left-wing opposition parties are “to the right of Fidesz in terms of economic policies.” The moderate right-wing columnist contends that the left-wing opposition is more pro-market than the governing forces, which have increased their constituency by levying extra taxes on banks, telecom companies and energy providers, while also cutting household utility tariffs.