Left-wing danger for Tisza Party?

Written by Rainer Ackermann

In mid-November, another poll shows the Tisza party in the lead, albeit only narrowly.

According to the Publicus Institute, if elections were held next Sunday, 39% of sure voters would vote for Péter Magyar’s formation and 38% for Fidesz-KDNP. The Tisza party is also one point ahead of the governing coalition among the population as a whole (with 25%). In contrast to other polls, Publicus puts former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány’s DK in 3rd place, which would definitely be represented in the next parliament with 9%. In the case of the right-wing Mi Hazánk (5%), meanwhile, the bar is wobbling. Among the other opposition parties, the institute could no longer measure any support for the centre-right Jobbik party, the green LMP and the left-wing Párbeszéd, while the liberal Momentum (1-2%), the satirical MKKP and the socialist MSZP (2-3%) still manage to remain on the voters’ “radar”.

The new poll confirms the impression that Fidesz has gained a serious competitor in the Tisza party. It is not really possible to say who is currently in the lead, as 36% of respondents to Publicus were undecided in their choice. In this respect, the additional question of what would happen if the left-wing opposition decided to form an alliance again is relevant. Publicus played out this scenario with DK and MSZP, which could now be joined by the liberal Momentum as the third party in the alliance instead of the left-wing splinter party Párbeszéd. Among the safe voters, up to 14% could opt for this alternative, and at least one in five Tisza supporters would consider it.