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Viewing cable 06BUDAPEST748, HUNGARY'S ELECTIONS: SZDSZ BEATS EXPECTATIONS IN

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06BUDAPEST748 2006-04-11 14:23 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Budapest
VZCZCXRO9507
RR RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHUP #0748/01 1011423
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111423Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8985
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUDAPEST 000748 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI ECON PINR HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY'S ELECTIONS: SZDSZ BEATS EXPECTATIONS IN 
ROUND ONE (C-RE6-00145) 
 
REF: STATE 22644 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) On April 9, the liberal Alliance of Free Democrats 
(SZDSZ) made a strong showing in the first round of Hungary's 
national elections, exceeding both current expectations and 
its 2002 performance.  As a result, it appears poised to 
remain in government alongside its current partner, the 
Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP).  Wasting no time, the SZDSZ 
and MSZP parties pledged to cooperate in 58 individual 
constituencies by strategic withdrawals of their respective 
candidates in each other's favor.  If the strategy pays off, 
much horse trading remains to be done for key cabinet spots 
and in this fall's local elections following the second-round 
vote on April 23.  Over the next two weeks, however, the two 
parties must coax enough supporters back to the polls to 
ensure victory. 
 
------------------ 
An Impressive Feat 
------------------ 
 
2. (SBU) Against many analysts' predictions that the SZDSZ 
might fall out of Parliament, the party bettered its 2002 
performance by more than a percentage point, finishing with 
6.5 percent of the vote.  That strong performance may be 
attributed to a successful mobilization campaign, a high 
turnout, and opposition FIDESZ's tactical errors.  Already 
stronger in Budapest than in rural districts, SZDSZ saw its 
support jump from 9.5 percent to 12.3 in the capital. 
Analysts also credit MSZP "cross-over" votes for SZDSZ in 
round one's party-list voting.  Though not officially 
endorsed by party leadership, MSZP party loyalists have long 
acknowledged in private that 1) the MSZP was not likely to 
win an outright majority, and 2) the SZDSZ would need help 
from MSZP voters to scale the five-percent hurdle to entering 
Parliament and continue in the current coalition.  SZDSZ's 
achievement is also noteworthy in that it expanded its base 
despite its incumbent position.  (Note: In every election 
since 1990, Hungarian voters have overturned the incumbent 
government.) 
 
----------------------------- 
MSZP and SZDSZ:  Fast Friends 
----------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany (MSZP) and SZDSZ 
President Gabor Kuncze wasted no time forging an agreement to 
support each other's second-round races in 58 key contests, 
announcing the deal at a joint rally just one day after the 
conclusion of round one.  Kuncze agreed to withdraw SZDSZ 
candidates in 55 races, throwing the party's support to MSZP 
in all but three of the races where the SZDSZ candidate 
finished in third place or better.  (Note: The Socialist 
candidate will withdraw in three other races, including 
Kuncze's own district, which he has won with MSZP support in 
every election since 1990.  If he wins on April 23, Kuncze 
will become the only MP to serve continuously since the 
democratic transition.)  In public statements on April 10, 
senior SZDSZ party member Ivan Peto clarified that SZDSZ 
cooperation is contingent on firm promises to withdraw MSZP 
candidates from many mayoral races in the fall and, 
presumably, to seat SZDSZ members in various ministries. 
Both parties agree that consolidating ministries must be a 
priority in the new term, and the Free Democrats are no doubt 
jockeying for key cabinet posts to advance their health care, 
economic and education campaign goals under a new system. 
 
------------------------------- 
Clever Campaign Lifts Free Dems 
------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU)  The SZDSZ ran a clever campaign that played to 
their strengths.  Knowing that they were never likely to draw 
mass support, the Free Democrats opted for pithy, low-cost, 
mass-media blitzes, bolstered by Internet-based initiatives 
designed to show liberal principles as the way of the future. 
 At a recent campaign stop, Kuncze remarked to Emboffs that 
the plan to differentiate themselves from the MSZP in the 
early stages, and "unite" just prior to the election, appears 
to have paid off.  (Comment:  One mistake, however, came in 
the early "Let My Kingdom Come" posters, which led to a 
backlash, especially from far-right voters and the Church.) 
However, the "Pisti Kovacs" ad series proved, far and away, 
to be the SZDSZ's best mobilizing tool.  That strategy 
presented the party's "youngest member," five-year-old Kovacs 
 
BUDAPEST 00000748  002 OF 002 
 
 
Pisti, as the future of Hungary.  Young Pisti appeared in 
Internet video files, on billboards and in flyers across the 
county.  Voters were encouraged to "become Kovacs Pisti's 
friend" by providing contact information at the SZDSZ 
website.  Despite limited finances, SZDSZ's coordinated media 
efforts created a positive, residual message that saturated 
Hungary for ninety days prior to the election. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Comment:  Will SZDSZ's Strategy Pay Off? 
---------------------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU)  With the April 23 second round looming on the 
horizon, the SZDSZ must now mobilize its voters to return to 
the polls and support the MSZP-SZDSZ coalition.  Though 
FIDESZ faces an uphill battle to win 75 of 110 open mandates 
against a stacked field of MSZP, SZDSZ and MDF supporters, 
all publicly denouncing Orban and the conservatives,  low 
voter turnout by coalition supporters in the second round 
could allow Orban to regain lost ground.  Gyurcsany and 
Kuncze will continue to appear together publicly to rally 
support for the coalition's candidates in key races.  At 
first glance, SZDSZ appears to have given much away by 
withdrawing from so many races.  However, if the coalition is 
successful, the real bargaining will begin after the second 
round.  SZDSZ will no doubt demand a few high-profile 
ministry positions, as well as significant concessions in 
mayoral races, in exchange for their support.  For now, the 
immediate focus is on defeating Orban and FIDESZ, which is 
probable, but not guaranteed at this point. 
 
6.  (U) Visit Embassy Budapest's classified website: 
www.state.sgov/gov/p/eur/budapest/index.cfm 
WALKER