„The rhetoric of the far right is increasingly echoing across the European public sphere. With European Parliament elections fast approaching, there is increasing talk about the likely success and future role the populist far right will play in the EU. (...)
In contrast, Hungary offers a compelling answer to the increasing pressure from these parties.
The extremist anti-Semitic and anti-Roma Jobbik party currently holds 43 seats in the Hungarian Parliament and has a rather unsavory impact on the international media image of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. However, could this all be about to change with the country’s recent electoral reform and upcoming parliamentary elections on April 6?
While Hungary’s new electoral system has been harshly criticized in the media as favoring Orban’s ruling party Fidesz, there is more to it than meets the eye. The system has the potential to squeeze Hungary’s far right out of the political game by allowing smaller minority parties and independent candidates an opportunity to gain seats in the Parliament.