New Developments in the Spring of 2000
New Developments in the Spring of 2000
The governing party – contrary to its statements – drew the appropriate conclusions from the new balance of forces surprisingly soon; partly by giving up policies of open polarization and of seeking enemies, by placing the propagation of existing and non-existing achievements in the forefront instead, partly by separating – after a brief debate – within the Fidesz the prime minister’s function from the party president’s function. Neither the governing MDF (Hungarian Democratic Forum) nor Gyula Horn were capable of achieving this in their respective terms in office. Fidesz, led by László Kövér, assumed the radical anti-communist right-wing style, and the prime minister could afford to practice the role of the all-national integrative leader.
MSZP (Hungarian Socialist Party) has no idea what to do with its somewhat unexpectedly acquired popularity. On the one hand, they are unprepared for the continuous demonstration of a competitive governance alternative, and they are unable to manage the irreconcilable internal struggles of the party’s various groups in a civilized manner in the face of publicity. At the end of the day, MSZP made a disaster of Miklós Németh’s return to the political arena. Everyone believed that the come-back of the former head of government will all the more increase the Socialists’ odds of winning. By contrast, all persons involved made every possible mistake in political communication, and there is now a chance that the expected advantage will turn into a disadvantage. The Németh issue cast a bright light on all the unresolved internal problems of MSZP. (In December 2000 it is still to be seen whether the favorable or the dishonorable traits of the party will prevail before the next elections.)
In the shadow of the cautious attempts made by the two large parties to rearrange the balance of power, the lesser parties also try to draw their own profile with forceful lines. At first it was the initiative named Békejobb (Literally “Peace Right” – a Hungarian phrase similar to “Pipe of Peace”, but its close meaning is the right hand extended for a handshake as a sign of reconciliation – roughly “Right Hand As a Sign of Peace”) – an attempt at a compromise – that aroused unexpected agonies. Fractions of the former MDF, having evaluated the situation, decided that they ought to prepare for the contingency if the Fidesz should lose a significant number of voters due to governance mistakes. They – MDF, that is – believe that there should be an eligible, moderate right wing alternative. Surprisingly but explicably, this attempt aroused the least objections in Fidesz and FKGP (Independent Smallholders’ Party) [ – and received the most encouragement from the other side of the political spectrum]. Public opinion undoubtedly received this modest attempt at pluralization, even though party-preference figures did not really confirm the “Békejobb” politics.
SZDSZ (Alliance of Free Democrats) continued to try and find its place in this impossible situation, and events in the first three quarters of the year indicated that the free democrats are the number one losers of the fact that Parliamentary publicity has been pushed into the background.
MIÉP could, with some degree of self-irony, state that the mistakes and shortcomings of all other political players strengthen its position – for the most part in an indirect way, of course. The permanent scandals within the Smallholders’ Party, the collapse of their voter base was a priori favorable to MIÉP. The ever more embittered war between MSZP and Fidesz on the front of domestic policy, evincing little faithfulness to principles, also revalue MIÉP’s supply of themes for political discourse. In addition, there are more and more indications that the government coalition – on the occasions of heated votes in Parliament with an uncertain end-results – a priori counts on external support from the ranks of the MIÉP.
