This should not come as a great surprise, but according to a poll run last month by Nézőpont Intézet (and summarized in this article in Magyar Nemzet), few Hungarians are inclined to believe the slogans on posters the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) has put up around the country to laud the current government’s alleged achievements. The poll found widespread skepticism about the posters’ claim that the economy is improving, and that the purchasing power of wages and pensions is growing. Overall, fewer than 30% of those polled said they believed the statements in the campaign.
Among the groups most likely to think the government is blowing smoke are the highly-educated and those between the ages of 45 and 59. For example, 80% of this age group does not believe that the purchasing power of wages grew in 2008.
More than half of the respondents – 52%, considerably more than the current level of support for chief opposition party Fidesz – said they did not think it was right of the Socialists to launch a campaign to promote the government’s achievements. This figure was even higher among undecided voters, presumably the campaign’s target group, Magyar Nemzet points out.
Among supporters of the Socialist Party, 78% said they think the campaign is justified, while others reject it or are indifferent, and only 49% believe the statement about growing pensions.
