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Only to parties would make threshold to the House

A total of 67% of Hungarians entitled to vote would turn out if Parliamentary elections were held this Sunday, according to the latest survey carried out by the pollsters Medián Kft. between 8 and 12 November on a representative sample of 1,200 Hungarians in 100 locations nationwide. This, compared to 73% in October. The governing Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) would win 50% of the votes of those who would definitely vote. The runner up is the opposition Fidesz-MPP, while the junior partner Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) is at third place with 3% and the far right Hungarian Justice Life Party (MIÉP) is at the fourth with 1%. This means that only the two major parties would make the 5% parliamentary threshold. At the same time, with 52% against, the opposition MIÉP is the most rejected party by those who would definitely vote, followed by the Independent Smallholders Party (48.5%) and Fidesz-MPP (35%)

As regards politicians, president of the opposition Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) Ibolya Dávid has a 74% approval rate (up 7% from October). The runner-up is Budapest Mayor Gábor Demszky (SZDSZ) with 70% (up 12%), followed by President Ferenc Mádl, who scored 68% (up 4%). Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy is at 4th place with 66% (up 5%), while Health and Welfare Minister Judit Csehák is the fifth on the list with 65% (up 35). The first opposition politician on the list – other than the leader Ibolya Dávid – is János Áder of the opposition Fidesz-MPP, who has 41% (down 5%). He is followed by István Balsai of the MDF with 32% (down 2%). The chart below shows (I.) the change of Hungarians’ willingness to vote and (II.) the changes in the party preferences of those who would definitely vote from July through November.

  July August September October NovemberWillingness to vote   Would definitely vote7172747367Would perhaps vote911101012Would perhaps not vote64455Would definitely not vote1313111115Does not know1-111Preferences of those who would definitely vote   Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP)4551464950Fidesz-MPP3528303032Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ)33533Hungarian Justice and Life Party (MIÉP)12111Independent Smallholders Party (FKGP)1--1-Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF)-1111Workers’ Party---1-Cetrum Party-111-Does not know32633Refuses to tell1212101010
Stock Exchange Companies publish 3Q preliminary reports

The index of the Buadpest Stock Exchange (BÉT) rose by 6.8% following the publication of the third Quarter preliminary reports of quoted companies. The increase can be attributed to the fact that the sum total of the companies’ profits grew significantly compared to the same period of last year: This year’s Ft 210.9 billion is nearly two-thirds higher than that for the same period of 2001. The chart below shows the results of the companies in category A of BÉT as of September 30, 2002.

2003 budget in the works

Parliament began the debate of the 2003 budget last Monday. The debate is scheduled to last for a month and is likely to be heated as the government and the oppostition will probably differ on the methods in which Hungary will accomplish the self-imposed task of reducing the state budgetary deficit to 4.5% of the GDP. As yet, it is uncertain where exactly the state budetary deficit is to be cut from, as even the coalition partners do not agree fully whether to take 5.7% as this year’s figure, which would not include the compensation of certain expenditures that had earlier not been included in the budget, or to take everything together, which would add up to a 8.7% deficit for this year.

In a related article,HVG carries a chart showing a breakdown of the balance of various entiries in the state budget in 2001, 2002 and 2003 (Ft bn)

Richest Hungarian has Ft 40 billion

With Ft 40 billion Gábor Várszegi, the owner of the Fotex Group, is the richest Hungarian citizen, according to the Hungarian top 100 compiled by the daily Magyar Hírlap. He is followed by Gábor Széles (Ft 32 billion), and Sándor Demján (Ft 30 billion). One had to have at least Ft 15 billion to be in the top 10, while the poorest rich man of the 100 is István Wachter with Ft 2.5 billion. Many people appearing on the list find it unethical of Magyar Hírlap to be included in the list wihout their prior consent. The former Ombudsman for data protection László Majtényi even issued an expert’s opinion in which he declared that MH violated basic human and cicil rights of the people included. Observers say some names are missin from the list. According to socioligist Erzsébet Szalai, some 20% to 50% of the amounts in the list are underestimated. According to the Magyar Hírlap, the top 100 taken together have some Ft 600 billion, which is less than the amount the richest Polish citizen owns alone.

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