Latest poll: Socialist popularity slides even further

Support for the Socialist Party among eligible voters has dropped from 11% in January to 10% in April, a Századvég-Forsense poll found, while 32% of voters back Fidesz. Among decided party voters 69% would vote for Fidesz and 19% for the Socialist Party, if elections were held this weekend. Meanwhile the Free Democrats and the Democratic Forum have 2% voter support, as do the rest of Hungary’s other parties combined.

Of voters, 72% as against 60% gauged in February believe that the cabinet is doing a poor job, although one in two say the same about the opposition. Some 41% of respondents said Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán is more suitable for the post of prime minister while incumbent Ferenc Gyurcsány has the backing of 24% of voters.

Supporters of Fidesz have grown from 2.3 million two years ago to 3.4 million, while support for the Socialists has dropped to slightly over one million, according to the Nézőpont Intézet (Viewpoint Institute).

Tárki shows that support for Fidesz dropped from 37% in March to 33% this month, while support for the Socialist Party fell from 13% gauged in March to 12%. The coalition crisis has had the most negative effect on the Free Democrats, as only 1% of voters back them at present, while 5% support the Democratic Forum.

Fidesz deputy chairman Lajos Kósa is the most popular politician in the Tárki poll, ahead of Democratic Forum chairwoman Ibolya Dávid and President László Sólyom.

Political scientist Péter Farkas Zárug pointed out that the Socialist Party has returned to the result it notched up in 1990. He said if the Socialists replace the prime minister, they can in great probability move up from the lowest point, as they still have reserves. Zárug said the unprecedented support for Fidesz should also result in a rise in that party’s sense of responsibility. He said the opposition party must tell the general public what can or cannot realistically be expected from them in the event of an election victory.