Hungary parliamentary election April 8 2018

[Antonio the Sixth]

Well that explains it.

[Lord Halifax]

Well that explains it.

E.g. the Macedonian right wing is obsessed with Soros. He is the designated globalist bogeyman for a lot of nationalist right wingers.

[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

Well that explains it.

E.g. the [put here your favourite Eastern European country] right wing is obsessed with Soros. He is the designated globalist bogeyman for a lot of nationalist right wingers.

[rob in cal]

   If in fact there is some organized movement to get only one anti-Fidesz candidate on the ballot in the more swingey districts, I wonder how Jobbik voters will feel about that, in those districts where the opposition candidate is from the left.  Getting this broad anti-Orban alliance to work might be a bridge too far.

[DC Al Fine]

   If in fact there is some organized movement to get only one anti-Fidesz candidate on the ballot in the more swingey districts, I wonder how Jobbik voters will feel about that, in those districts where the opposition candidate is from the left.  Getting this broad anti-Orban alliance to work might be a bridge too far.

How about the other way around? How would social democratic voters feel about voting for Jobbik?

[rob in cal]

  Yeah, that too, and also voters wondering just how workable such an anti-Fidesz alliance would be in practice might dampen overall voter enthusiasm.

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

Well that explains it.

E.g. the [put here your favourite Eastern European country] right wing  is obsessed with Soros. He is the designated globalist bogeyman for a lot of nationalist right wingers.

And of the Romanian Social Democrats

[Zinneke]

Wait, MUH SOROS is a thing outside of the US? Really?

While my home region would be a nicer place if America had a monopoly on antisemitism, the fact is that if anything, Orbán was the one who made MUH SOROS a worldwide mainstream right-wing meme in the first place.

I mean of course I know antisemitism is a thing everywhere and especially in Eastern Europe, I just didn't know Soros specifically was a trope there. I haven't heard French and Italian antisemites bring him up.

What you're not taking into account is that Soros is literally from Budapest.

Add to that Soros owns a lot of capital in Hungary, which is what Orban is most concerned about, and is enough to tow conspiracy theories. Soros and Orban were also pretty friendly back when Fidesz was this weird hip liberal party and Viktor was wearing leather jackets to his rallies.

[SPQR]

Wait, MUH SOROS is a thing outside of the US? Really?

While my home region would be a nicer place if America had a monopoly on antisemitism, the fact is that if anything, Orbán was the one who made MUH SOROS a worldwide mainstream right-wing meme in the first place.

I mean of course I know antisemitism is a thing everywhere and especially in Eastern Europe, I just didn't know Soros specifically was a trope there. I haven't heard French and Italian antisemites bring him up.

Salvini and Meloni (leaders of Lega and Fratelli d'Italia) have started to bring up the Soros rhetoric as well.

[DavidB.]

Negotiations between MSzP, DK, LMP and Jobbik are currently taking place. Most people on the left agree that Fidesz can only be ousted from government if all other parties work together and run only one opposition candidate in all districts, but there is a divide between those who are willing to cooperate with Jobbik in order to do so and those who think Jobbik are beyond the pale. Without Jobbik this would go nowhere, as the left is simply too weak in almost all districts outside Budapest.

[mgop]

another fake elections, like in russia, bulgaria, serbia, montenegro...

[rob in cal]

   Just read that opposition candidates have until the day before the election to decide to withdraw in favor of one unified opposition candidate per district, but I wonder how that would work.  One would think ballot papers have been printed, some people voting by mail etc.

[Former President tack50]

   Just read that opposition candidates have until the day before the election to decide to withdraw in favor of one unified opposition candidate per district, but I wonder how that would work.  One would think ballot papers have been printed, some people voting by mail etc.

I guess maybe Hungary votes like here in Spain? Where instead of a single ballot where you tick the appropiate box, there are several lists, one from each party, that you put into your envelope?

That way if a party drops out at the last minute they can simply not put the list on the voting booths (and if somehow one slips out and the like then it counts as a spoilt ballot)

Then again even with that you still need some notice for mail votes (unless they plan on making those spoilt as well)

[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

https://twitter.com/josephdaul/status/979656982121467904

[MaxQue]

Another proof Wauquiez is a crypto-fascist.

[rob in cal]

  Just read that the Socialist pm candidate Karacsony said he supports the Hungarian border fence and opposes mandatory EU migrant resettlement quotas.  Sounds like an attempt to steal Orban's thunder on this issue, but I think Orban has made  migration his issue to such an extent that it won't make much of a difference.

[TheSaint250]

What specific policies and actions has Orban taken that have led to him being referred to as authoritarian?

[Tender Branson]

What specific policies and actions has Orban taken that have led to him being referred to as authoritarian?

IMO not really his tough actions incl. border protection during the immigrant wave of 2015/16 (these actions were the common-sense things to do), but more his anti-liberalism on many social issues and his cronies from the business sector, who are owning big parts of the "independent" media and report very favourably about Orban (who in turn feeds them and their businesses with nice, generous government contracts). And his anti-semitism and Putin-love of course.

[rob in cal]

   Looks like the left wing parties are coming to some alliances, with candidates standing down in some Budapest districts. Based on 2014 results a united left should do really well in Budapest, especially the wealthier areas. I'd like to see a demography chart of the different districts. I read that even with the ballots printed, election officials would cross out the names of candidates who are withdrawing.
     I find it hilarious that the FPTP aspect of Hungary's election system is getting so much criticism.  I agree with its unfairness, but the idea that US, Canadian or British observers are some of those critics is pretty ironic.
   

[DavidB.]

I find it hilarious that the FPTP aspect of Hungary's election system is getting so much criticism.  I agree with its unfairness, but the idea that US, Canadian or British observers are some of those critics is pretty ironic.

FPTP in itself isn't what is being criticized. The issue is that the surplus for winners of FPTP districts is added to parties' list vote, which basically rigs the election for Fidesz.

[Former President tack50]

I find it hilarious that the FPTP aspect of Hungary's election system is getting so much criticism.  I agree with its unfairness, but the idea that US, Canadian or British observers are some of those critics is pretty ironic.

FPTP in itself isn't what is being criticized. The issue is that the surplus for winners of FPTP districts is added to parties' list vote, which basically rigs the election for Fidesz.

What about the losers? Are they thrown out? If they were added as well I guess it's an ok (albeit strongly majoritarian) system

If they are thrown out then yeah, it's an elected dictatorship

[DavidB.]

Nope, only the surplus for winning FPTP candidates is added to the list vote. It sounds too crazy to be true, but it's true.

[rob in cal]

  Right, but some of the criticism I've read is just about the unfairness of Fidesz potentially winning almost all of the fptp seats with a plurality of the vote, just this issue, not how it leads to Fidesz getting more list votes seats, and I find that hilarious in view of some very interesting fptp outcomes in countries that use it.

[Diouf]

Nope, only the surplus for winning FPTP candidates is added to the list vote. It sounds too crazy to be true, but it's true.

Freek's chart in the previous page from the Hungarian national election office shows that the surplus votes from losing candidates is also added (providing that the party is over 5% nationally). So it's not that outrageous.

And agree with rob in cal. Some of the criticism from anglo-saxon sides of the election system is quite bizarre.

[DavidB.]

You are right, I looked it up and the official website states that losing candidates can add their votes to the national list too. Still a weird clause imo. I tend to like MMM in more developed democracies (would not mind introducing it in NL, without the Hungarian surplus clause of course), but countries like Hungary and Georgia show us how not to do it.