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Fidesz Keeps Three-Point Lead in Hungary
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The opposition Citizens Party (Fidesz) holds a slight advantage before next month's legislative ballot in Hungary, according to a poll by Gallup. 29 per cent of respondents would vote for Fidesz, while 26 per cent would support the governing Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP).
The Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) is third with four per cent, followed by the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) with three per cent.
In August 2004, Socialist prime minister Peter Medgyessy tendered his resignation after a cabinet dispute. The Socialists chose businessman and sports minister Ferenc Gyurcsany as the new head of government. Former prime minister Viktor Orban is the leader of Fidesz.
The legislative election has been scheduled for Apr. 9 and Apr. 23. Hungary's electoral system calls for a first round, where a shortlist of all the candidates who receive more than 15 per cent of the vote is created. In the second round, the actual winner is chosen from these candidates. Also, the national transfer list allocates seats for every party that surpasses the five per cent threshold.
Last month, Orban said it would be "almost impossible" to adopt the euro as the national currency in 2010, and said his party would commit to "the emergence of Hungary, and the rebuilding of solidarity" before any changes are adopted.
Polling Data
If an election were held today, what party would you support?
Feb. 2006 | Jan. 2006 | |
Hungarian Citizens Party (Fidesz) | 29% | 32% |
Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) | 26% | 29% |
Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) | 4% | 3% |
Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) | 3% | 2% |
Source: Gallup Hungary
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,014 Hungarian voters, conducted from Feb. 18 to Feb. 23, 2006. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.