Jobbik consolidates power across Hungary

Gabor Vona (photo: Zipp)

Jobbik, the Movement for a Better Hungary, has established itself nationwide at local municipal government levels, after entering into the National Parliament for the first time in April 2010. Although only 47% of the eligible voted in the elections held on 3rd October, Jobbik achieved outstanding results even in Budapest, normally considered a haven of liberalism and where Socialist-liberal councils were elected for the past 20 years.
Fidesz conquered Budapest with Istvan Tarlos elected as mayor of Budapest. Tarlos had previously promised former Socialist and Liberal Democrat deputies positions in the Hungarian capital city's key offices, a practice that seems to be a Fidesz-policy after its "orange-revolution".

The Socialists (MSzP) achieved a relatively good result mainly due to many voters coming back and turning away from the barely existing new liberal party LMP they had voted for in April. LMP's result was disastrous nationwide with less than 50 deputies but managed to get 3 mandates out of the 33 in the Budapest Chamber, not long ago a stronghold of Liberalism.

Jobbik also has 3 deputies in the Budapest Chamber and deputies in all but one of the districts in the capital city. http://www.jobbik.com/hungary/3186.html