"The popularity index of the Hungarian Socialist Party, the senior partner in the country's governing Socialist-Liberal coalition, hit rock bottom and is currently at its lowest-ever point, Századvég-Forsense found in its latest poll. According to the report, Fidesz has the support of 29% of the entire population, which compares with 15% for the Socialists.Six out of ten Hungarian citizens believe the decline of the national economy continued throughout last year, and half of the respondents are even more pessimistic about future prospects. Those rather dissatisfied with the current administration and opposition forces account for a respective 65% and 56% of the population.
Since the previous poll in late September, there has been a 5% increase in the number of interviewees who said they would not vote for any of the political parties if the general elections were held next Sunday. At the same time, the number of voters with a clear party preference decreased by 1%. Assuming a ballot next Sunday, none of the minor political parties would garner the necessary number of votes to pass the 5% threshold of forming a parliamentary group, Századvég-Forsense found.
Compared with the previous monthly poll, the view that only a new political force independent of existing parties could solve the country's problems has gained popularity, according to the research findings. 25% of those polled said neither current premier Ferenc Gyurcsány nor opposition leader Viktor Orbán were adequate for the office of Prime Minister, although support for Orbán in this respect grew to 37% while Gyurcsány is supported by 31% of voters only."
Source: Portfolio Online Financial Journal
31.10.2007