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Tag: primary elections

Márki-Zay Captured Educated Voters, While Older Voters Opted for Dobrev

Steven N.

A new survey provides a glimpse into the demographic breakdown and social habits of those who voted for the two candidates vying to lead the united opposition coalition.

According to research released by the Political Science Institute of the Social Sciences Research Center, supporters of primary winner Péter Márki-Zay were younger, had higher education degrees, and typically received their information from online news sources and social media.

The survey also showed that many more women voted for DK’s Klára Dobrev than for Márki-Zay, and that her supporters tended to be older, with an average age of 67, compared to 44 for the Hódmezővásárhely mayor.

Two-thirds of Dobrev’s supporters had high school degrees and one-third had university degrees, but this proportion was reversed for those who voted for Márki-Zay. In addition, Dobrev’s voters primarily received their information from television and radio news, according to the research.

The survey was conducted during the second round of the primary elections in Budapest with 440 respondents, although only 357 of them agreed to state who they voted for. The institute’s results showed 65% of respondents supported Márki-Zay and 35% voted for Dobrev, which was only four points off the final election results of 61-35% in the capital. [HVG]

Political Opposition Given New Life, Says Political Scientist

Steven N.

The recent primary elections have given a new life to Hungary’s political opposition, says political scientist Zoltán Gábor Szűcs. Speaking on the latest podcast of the New Equality Foundation, Szűcs stated that the opposition’s primaries not only got voters moving, but participation also far exceeded expectations. Moreover, the eventual winner of the elections, Péter Márki-Zay, didn’t even look likely to make it into the second round of voting a few weeks before the first round kicked off.

Szűcs believes that the primaries demonstrated to voters that they could directly effect public and political matters, stressing that a result could be a common identity and inter-party cooperation on the opposition side. In addition, he feels that one of the main tasks of Márki-Zay-led coalition is to appeal to the large number of uncertain voters.

While Márki-Zay’s primary victory may have surprised the Fidesz-KDNP’s communication machinery, the political scientist believes that the government will continue its anti-LMBTQ, anti-EU, and “Stop Gyurcsány” campaign, as it would be too difficult for it to change its strategy now, with only six months before parliamentary elections are expected to be held. [Népszava]