Opposition parties face ‘existential’ battle in Poland and Hungary in Sunday elections
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This Sunday will be a crucial test for the opposition in central Europe’s two populist strongholds as liberal forces in both countries attempt to win back ground from nationalists.
In Poland, the opposition has described Sunday’s parliamentary elections as an “existential” battle to prevent the ruling nationalist party from gaining another four years in charge to reshape the country.
In Hungary, the battle is already seen as mostly lost, with the far-right government of Viktor Orbán firmly entrenched after winning a third consecutive term last year. The goal for the opposition in local elections on Sunday is to win back at least some momentum. If the unified opposition candidate can take back control of the capital Budapest from Orbán’s Fidesz party, it would be a rare setback for Hungary’s anti-migration prime minister, who has talked about a project to reshape the country by 2030.
Polls suggest the races will be close. But in both countries the ruling parties, which have drawn ire from the European commission and rights organisations, look the more likely to win. The opposition has also been criticised for fractious infighting and political own goals that have not helped their chances in either country in recent years.
In Poland, the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) has the support of more than 40% of Poles, according to most surveys. PiS won elections in 2015 and has embarked on a programme of massive social spending, winning widespread support.
Regarding the situation in Hungary, Edit Zgut, a Hungarian political analyst based in Warsaw said, “if they lose these elections, it’s over for some of these opposition parties.”
The most symbolic battle is for mayor of the capital, Hungary’s only big city and still a relatively liberal and cosmopolitan place in comparison to the rest of the country. Here, the opposition forces have united around 44-year-old Gergely Karácsony. The run-up to the vote has been lively, with spoiler candidates, police searches of an opposition office and dirt leaked anonymously on candidates from both sides of the divide.
