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Inkumbens-hátrány
Disadvantage of Incumbents

Local Linkages and Person-motivated Vote in Hungary

Author(s): Zsófia Papp
Subject(s): Electoral systems
Published by: MTA Politikai Tudományi Intézete
Keywords: Candidates; elections; personal vote; local background; in cumbency

Summary/Abstract: This article aims at determining how factors strengthening votes given to individuals such as incumbency and local political experience infl uence the proportion of votes given to individual candidates in Hungary between 1994 and 2010. Although these factors do not change power relations between parties, multilevel regression analysis shows that no matter how party-centred politics is, voters still appreciate local connection and experience. Oddly, instead of helping candidates to increase their vote share, incumbency appears as a disadvantage at elections. The trial-and-error tactics of Hungarian voters lead them not only to punish governments, but single-member district representatives too.

  • Issue Year: XXV/2016
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 31-56
  • Page Count: 26
  • Language: Hungarian
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