"Support for Hungary’s main opposition party Fidesz and the ruling Socialist Party (MSZP) has dropped moderately in March relative to the first two months of 2010, while far-right Jobbik increased its voter base, the latest poll of Szonda Ipsos showed on Thursday.Among voters pledging to turn out at the booths in the first round of Hungary’s general elections on 11 April Fidesz leads to 57%, followed by the Socialists (20%) and Jobbik (17%), local daily Népszabadság reports.
The gap between the popularity of MSZP and Jobbik has never been this small - it was nine percentage points in January and eight in February, according to pollster Szonda Ipsos.
Of the smaller parties seen unlikely to reach the 5% threshold necessary to make it to Parliament LMP stands out, with an unprecedented 3% support. The Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) and the almost extinct liberal Free Democrats (SZDSZ) boast a 1% support.
According to Szonda Ipsos, there are about 500,000 voters that have not made up their mind yet, vacillating between Fidesz and Jobbik. It is this group that is most likely to decide whether Fidesz will have two thirds of the 386 parliamentary seats or less."
Source: Portfolio Online Financial Journal
12.03.2010