Election Campaign without Competition. A framework for the political sociological analysis of the 2010 election campaign in Hungary Cover Image

Választási küzdelem verseny nélkül. Szempontok a 2010-es választási kampány politikai szociológiai leírásához
Election Campaign without Competition. A framework for the political sociological analysis of the 2010 election campaign in Hungary

Author(s): László Kéri
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: MTA Politikai Tudományi Intézete
Keywords: campaign; elections; Hungarian party system; politics and media; political competition

Summary/Abstract: In comparison to the earlier ones, the 2010 election campaign in Hungary was a completely different one, partly because the identity of the possible winning party was acknowledged fairly in advance and for a long time. Since June 2009 at least it was clear after the results of the elections to the EP, when Fidesz had a sweeping victory. And later also, in the following months before the general elections, even the supporters of the rival parties had been counting with the inevitable victory of Fidesz. Due to these expectations in 2010, competition had become the missing link in the events of the campaign weeks. This kind of shortage had completely determined the development of the last six to ten weeks of the campaign. Instead of the contest, formerly grade B problems had become the key-issues: Such as, the inevitable two thirds majority of Fidesz in the next parliament, the riddle of the identity of the second party, or: who will be the leading force of the next opposition? Finally, there was the issue of the further political fate of the smaller parties, among them the question: which of them would be the most successful to reach the 5% threshold? Frankly, the above mentioned dilemmas were not too exiting to catch the political fantasy of the millions of voters.. This study tries to get a picture and to give an analysis of the most boring election campaign of the last twenty years in Hungary.

  • Issue Year: 2010
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 25-50
  • Page Count: 26
  • Language: Hungarian
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