How is the opposition in Hungary doing?
After the European Parliament's vote to open punitive proceedings against Hungary the Hungarian opposition staged a demonstration outside the parliament building in Budapest. Ex-prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsány called for the protests to continue until the government is ousted. Journalists examine Gyurcsány's role and wonder why he hasn't been able to mobilise more supporters.
Orbán's unsuccessful rival
Unfortunately Ferenc Gyurcsány is the only politician in Hungary capable of standing up to Viktor Orbán, the left-wing daily Népszava sighs:
“Capable, but nevertheless not effective, and therefore not dangerous for the dictator. Gyurcsány is completely in the picture politically, and he has a good grasp of the political situation in Hungary and in Europe. His ideas also bear the closest resemblance to what really needs to be done - and what can be accomplished. He's a brilliant rhetorician and he's shown that he's practically indestructible. Nevertheless he seems unable to expand his voter base. It's hard to say why.”
In a pitiful state
The opposition in Hungary is in pitiful shape, leftist philosopher Gáspár Miklós Tamás writes in hvg:
“In view of the opposition's pathetic image, its uncivil behaviour and the clamour during the session in parliament, in view of the furore of the government's far-right terrorist media and the cheap ridicule on opposition websites, it has become clear that even the most pessimistic visions are like a comedian's banter in comparison with the political reality. And then to top it all the honourable member of parliament Ferenc Gyurcsány took to the stage with his parody of a resistance movement. ... At his sparsely attended, pointless event, Mr Gyurcsány distributed plastic buckets featuring a picture of the prime minister so that his followers could hit Mr Orbán's image with sticks.”