13 June 2004
24 seats
Electoral system: party list system; proportional representation; threshold of 3
The main opposition party, the Conservative FIDESZ Party (young democrats alliance, Hungarian Civic Party) has had nine MEPs since 1 MAY. four of these won't be standing in the elections. Heading the list Pál Schmitt (62), president of the Hungarian Olympic Committee and currently an ambassador in Switzerland. Next: - József Szájer (43), legal expert who was an observer and member of the European Convention; - László Surján (63 ), formier minister for health; - György Schöpflin (65), legal expert, political scientist and, Lecturer at the London School of Economics and the Jean Monnet Institute; - Etelka Barsy Pataky, engineer, former ambassador in Austria; - Andras Gyürk (32 ), history and politics graduate; - Zsolt Becsey (40 ), economist, Head of Hungary's Mission in Brussels 1999-2003; - Lívia Járóka, anthropologist and specialist on Roms; - Béla Glattfelder (37 ), secretaries of state for the economy; - Csaba Ory (52 ) legal expert and sociologist, who was and observer.
Liberals from the MDF (Hungarian Democratic Forum) present a joint list with the FKGP (Agricultural Forces Party), MDNP (Democratic People's Party), IDF (Young Democrats) and the VP (Entrepreneurs Party). None of these parties have observers at the EP. The ex-minister of justice Ibolya Dávid (50 ), president of the MDF, is heading the list. In second position, Péter Olajos (MDF), teacher of mathematics and physics, in third place Jozsef Deák (FKGP, 54 ) president of the Agricultural FKGP Party, and in fourth place observer József Ekes (MDF, 53 ), who was an observer prior to 1 May.
The Socialists of the MSZP, who make up the current government, have ten observers at the EP. Two of them will no be standing. Here are the main candidates: - László Kovács (65) current minister of foreign affairs; - Gyula Horn (72) former prime minister and current president of the party; - Katalin Lévai (50 ), currently minister for equal opportunities; - Gábor Harangozó (29), agricultural engineer; - Magda Kósa Kovács (64 ), president of the Commission on Human Rights, Minorities and Religious Affairs at the Hungarian Parliament; - Csaba Tabajdi (52), expert on ethnic issues in Hungary; - Zita Gulyás Gurmai (39), involved in women's issue and equal opportunities; - Szabolcs Fazakas (57), specialist on external trade; - Edit Herczog (35), representative from associated members at WEU; - Alexandra Dobolyi (33), sociologist. Free Democrats Alliance SZDSZ, allied with the MSZP in the current government, which also has two observers at the EP. Only István Szent-Iványi (45), sociologist is standing in the elections. He is second on the list, behind the Mayor of Budapest Gábor Demszky (52 ).
Up-to-date polls forecast that the Fidezs are expected to win at least half of the 24 seats, given that people's dissatisfaction with policy currently being carried out by the Socialists in power. Fidez are expected to obtain 11 seats as opposed to one for the Liberals of the MDF. The SZDSZ are not expected to obtain the 5% required to win a seat.