12 april 2010, hungarian elections

Tuesday 13th April 2010

As expected fidesz, the centre right, won hands down and should now form a strong government, not that they will be in a position to do much different from the previous leftist government, which was forced by the dire economic situation to dispense bitter medicine prescribed by the imf. The treatment is working though, and vickor orban, the new prime minister ought to gradually benefit if he keeps a steady ship. To his far right now is “jobbik”, a truly horrendous paramilitary nationalist outfit, which won 16% of the vote, although less than many had expected. Orban’s flirtations with the street must take some of the blame for this (see the perfect storm). With 7%, the voice of sanity is a new liberal-green outfit, born from the old jewish-inspired szdsz. Hungarian politics is never dull and ever worrying.