30 January 2013
The damaging split in the LMP has punctured their much-vaunted image and slogan ‘politics can be different’. In fact the political rupture in the LMP resulting from the incompatibility of the positions of senior party members Schiffer and Jávor simply demonstrates that the LMP leadership was no better and quite evidently worse than the average Hungarian politician.
This episode is also quite revealing about would-be Hungarian politicians. First, irrespective of the high ideals expressed in their political platitudes, their basic aim is to become politicians, not assist in the better governance of their country. Second, it is quite obvious that protest politics or single-issue campaigns have a limited shelf life. One would be hard-pressed to say anything of the LMP’s policies or recognise any political achievement. Third and finally, the quality of those people trying to enter politics is depressingly low.
The implication for Hungarian politics of this latest fiasco is all too obvious. The opposition remains fragmented and ineffective. It is unlikely, particularly in light of the recent changes in the electoral system, to expect that LMP will be represented in parliament after the next election in 2014. However, this might also be an indicator that parties, which aspire to national prominence absent a genuine party base which is evenly spread throughout the country, have limited prospects of success.
One politician looking on and wondering what this might mean for his political aspirations will be Gordon Bajnai. It is now becoming apparent that his entry into ground-level politics was premature and his association with protest groups such as Milla is no indicator of political progress. Indeed, Bajnai’s recent decision to associate himself with a former Gyula Horn minister is unlikely to do anything for his liberal credentials.
Hungary’s opposition, including the MSZP, are still floundering. The ill-timed visit of MSZP leader Attila Mesterházy to the USA – he was not received by any US government official of note – simply reinforced the fact that trying to talk up foreign support is unlikely to succeed if you are unable to clearly enunciate any policy or demonstrate competence and credibility. If this was the best that MSZP communications guru Ron Werber could manage for his client, then Mesterházy should also consider his options.