Interesting figures: Hungarians living in Western Europe ‘immune’ to Fidesz
The European Parliamentary elections are rapidly approaching with only 26 days left. In this article, we look at the support for Fidesz, which is in government for the fourth time with a two-thirds majority, among Hungarians living abroad.
Since hundreds of thousands of Hungarians live in Western Europe, as always, it will be possible for those who want to cast their vote abroad to enter their names in the register of the foreign representation of their choice.
Hungarian voters living abroad or staying abroad on polling day have until 16:00 on 31 May to enrol in the register of the foreign representation where they wish to vote in the European Parliament elections on 9 June, Telex reports. So far, more than 10,000 Hungarian voters have indicated that they would like to vote at a foreign representation, but experience so far shows that most applications will be received in the last week of May.
Ever since Hungary has been able to participate in EP elections, Fidesz has always done exceptionally well in the Hungarian polling districts. The distribution of votes from foreign representations differs significantly, with Fidesz doing much worse in consular polling stations every time since 2004. According to Telex, the same is true for another party, the Democratic Coalition (DK), which is the biggest opposition party, led by former PM Ferenc Gyurcsány and his wife Klára Dobrev.
Votes for Fidesz abroad throughout the years
- In 2004, barely 2,000 people voted at representations abroad. At that time, Fidesz was a few percentage points behind its national list result.
- In 2009, Fidesz was above 56 percent nationally, while in the foreign representations they received “only” 50 percent.
- By 2014, the number of voters in foreign representations had further increased, and so had the gap between the national and foreign results of the governing party. More than 6,000 people voted, with Fidesz winning 45 percent of the vote in the delegations, compared to 51.5 percent in Hungary.
- In 2019, the number of voters at the foreign representations increased dramatically compared to the previous year, with 17,539 votes cast. Only 41 percent of the votes went to Fidesz, while the party’s overall national result was above 52 percent.
According to Telex, the same trend can also be observed in domestic parliamentary elections, with Fidesz and DK faring much worse in foreign representations.
The reasons for the relative unpopularity of Fidesz and DK among Hungarians working or studying in the West cannot be fully understood. However, according to Telex, it may be related to the fact that in the years of the 2008 crisis or the emigration wave that gained new strength after 2011, the heads of the country’s governments were called Ferenc Gyurcsány and Viktor Orbán.
This year, it will be interesting to see whether there will be any political actors who will make a political offer to the Hungarian voters in Western Europe and thus mobilise them.
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“ The reasons for the relative unpopularity of Fidesz and DK among Hungarians working or studying in the West cannot be fully understood.”
I think it’s easy to understand, but the answer might not be aligned with pro-government narrative so it will be silenced and questioned. That’s why people keep on leaving the country
Sad reality..the ones leaving hungary are the young ones. The one staying are the pensioners. You already know who votes for who. With a very old population and no newborn on the country, only god knows what will happen to this country. Maybe orban dream is to have full operation by temporary workers but that plan will not work forever
By allowing, the red flag back in Budapest with his new communist friend, Orbán showed no respect to all those fought in the 1956 revolution.
The red flag is a hated symbol in Hungary.
All genuine Hungarians abroad and in Hungary should now remember this when the time comes to change leadership in the parliament.
Hungary is in NATO, where there is no room to fly the red flag.
Underlining all the reason(s) that could be said, in respect to this article, it comes back to the FACT, that Hungarians grow in MASS numbers, in feeling & knowing – they have been FAILED by the Victor Orban – Fidesz Government.
WHAT have they DELIVERED us to at this point in time ?
Simple answered – a cataclysmic growing DISASTER, through Orbans on-going “sell-off” – his BASTARDIZATION of Hungary, to China in particular, that from an Hungarian perspective has greater negativity to it than gain.
Investment – yes INVESTMENT – from the West, will NEVER happen under the Orban plan for Hungary, that see’s his dismantling, his DISTILLATION of Democracy in Hungary, that is “aligning” it-self to a Dictatorship as is China and Russia, under COMMUNISM – the closet “friends” enjoyed by Orban and his Fidesz Government.
The young, in fact people of all ages, from “all stations in life ” in Hungary, knowing as we DO, we live in an Ageing Society, ratio of deaths to new born, still massively deaths per year WIN.
It comes back to FACT, across the ENTIRE picture of Hungary, besides FACT again, that the Rich have got Richer, and the Poor in there millions in Hungary have Got Poorer, the FUTURE, the quality of life FUTURE, professional opportunities, career opportunities, the DOUBT factors massively OUTWEIGH the positives, which will WORSEN, and HUNGARIANS are increasing there ACCEPTANCE of this as Fact, and simple saying – We HAVE been FAILED, by the Orban – Fidesz Government.