The Hail Mary that will likely become an interception

The decision by Democratic Forum chairwoman Ibolya Dávid to place Lajos Bokros at the head of her party’s European Parliamentary electoral list has been nothing short of controversial, with response generally negative. While questioning the motives behind the decision (which also placed György Habsburg second on the list), the move is essentially what in American Football is termed a “Hail Mary” pass, in that it is a final gasp for success in the face of overwhelming odds.

In most cases, the pass is unsuccessful, but given how the play also opens up the defense as players rush forward, interceptions on such pass attempts tend to be far more dangerous and devastating, which is exactly what this appears to be. There is a small chance that the move to place Bokros at the head of the list will pay off well, but increasingly it appears to be the feared interception.

Aside from grumblings by former party members, the push for Bokros has led to András Csáky’s announcement that he’ll leave the party after this weekend, which if he indeed does and keeps his parliamentary mandate, means that the Democratic Forum will no longer have the necessary numbers to form a parliamentary faction. With only faction leader Károly Herényi vocally supporting the increasingly unilaterally acting Dávid, it is becoming more likely that the plan to save her party very well may become its death knell.