Some 7.9 million Hungarians will be called upon to vote on 26 May in the European elections and Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party could emerge even stronger from the European elections, according to the latest projections.
On Thursday 23 May, the projections gave 13 seats to this party still affiliated to the European People's Party (EPP), ahead of the far-right Jobbik party with 3 seats, the socialists of the MSZP-Párbeszéd (2 votes), the DK-Democratic coalition (2 votes) and Momentum affiliated to ALDE with 1 seat.
In 2014, Fidesz had sent 11 deputies to Brussels and Strasbourg out of 21 Hungarian elected officials. Such a result would therefore be good news for the Hungarian leader, suspended on 20 March from the EPP (see EUROPE 12218/8), even though he had been recently credited with 14 seats.
In any case, this campaign was marked by the Prime Minister's favourite themes, namely the fight against illegal immigration, but also the EPP's choices to turn to the liberal pro-migration left, according to Viktor Orbán.
On Thursday, May 23, the government spokesman, István Hollik, further assured that "it is not (George) Soros and his money that will decide the outcome of the elections". He was also responding to Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, who, in an interview with CNN on 22 May, described nationalists or populists as "stupid". The spokesman blamed this on the "elite pro-migration in Brussels", which does not defend "the people of Europe and their security". May 26 will be, as such, an "excellent opportunity" to get rid of all pro-migration European parties, he added.
The question of the European Public Prosecutor's Office
Was this campaign really a campaign? Recently, the former Hungarian Minister, Balint Magyar, explained how the excessive concentration of Hungarian media (almost 80% of Hungarian media is under government control) prevented the opposition from being heard. Nor is the opposition united against Viktor Orbán (see EUROPE 12251/7). A Hungarian NGO has also denounced in recent days the "falsified" legislative election of April 2018, in which Fidesz obtained a two-thirds majority.
Despite this context, each party campaigned. On the socialists of the MSZP-Párbeszéd alliance side, it focused on social inequalities and access to health care and education, the standards of which must be raised. With its slogan "Homeland.Love.Europe", the party also proposes a European minimum wage and asks that the country join the European Public Prosecutor's Office responsible for combating fraud in the European budget.
The Socialist Liberal Democratic Coalition (DK) party of former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány envisions a federal Europe and a "United States of Europe". It also proposes European support for the family, a European minimum income and a European minimum pension.
Guy Verhofstadt on the field
The subject of the European Public Prosecutor's Office was also defended on 23 May by Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, Belgium), the Liberal leader in the European Parliament, campaigning in Hungary alongside Momentum party leader Katalin Cseh. This party, which appeared in 2017, is considered the most pro-European party in Hungary. In particular, it advocates an ambitious youth policy with an even more developed Erasmus programme and more European funds for hospitals, schools and workplaces, according to a description given by Hungary Today media.
The Party is also in favour of more European integration and transnational lists from 2024 onwards. Emigration, contrary to Fidesz, is a concern and the Party wants to convince Hungarians who have left to work abroad to return to a country with improved social conditions.
Alongside these parties, Jobbik, which would therefore take second place, is focusing its programme on combating immigration and keeping Hungarians in the country; it is also attacking the government's policy, which it claims is the author of "fake news" and has destroyed press freedom.
Jobbik also asks that Hungary join the European Public Prosecutor's Office to protect European funds, but also to fight against fraud by Viktor Orbán's friends and relatives. It challenges the Orbán government's idea that this issue is a matter of Hungarian sovereignty. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)