Hungary’s centre-left parties, the Socialists (MSZP) and the liberal Free Democrats (SZDSZ), suffered a massive defeat during the June 7th European Parliamentary elections, as two right-wing party lists together won more than two thirds of the vote. The governing Socialists only managed to win 4 out of 22 seats allocated to Hungary in the European Parliament, losing five of the nine seats that it had garnered during the last EP elections, in 2004. The situation was far worse for the SZDSZ; the liberals failed to pass the 5% threshold necessary to win mandates and will therefore lose the two seats that they currenty hold in the European Parliament. Despite long odds, the liberal-conservative Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF), however, was successful, and will keep its one mandate.

While the Hungarian centre-left vote collapsed, the right-wing won a landslide victory. Fidesz won 14 seats, while the far-right Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) succeeded won a shocking and unexpected victory. Not only did Jobbik pass the 5 percent threshold, it far surpassed expectations by winning 3 seats and taking 14.77% of the vote. Jobbik’s surprisingly strong performance in this election will likely help it cement its position prior to national elections in spring 2010, when it will aim to pass the 5% threshold necessary to enter the Parliament of Hungary.

The turn-out for the EP elections in Hungary was slightly lower this year than in 2004. While 38.50% of eligible voters participated in EP elections five years, this proportion stood at only 36 percent in 2009.

Attila Mesterházy, the MSZP’s caucus leader, noted that the Socialists would continue to support the current government, led by recently appointed independent Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai, despite continuous calls on the part of Fidesz to hold early national elections this fall, instead of waiting until 2010.

Canadian Hungarian Journal