Hungary's Tisza Party Sees First Drop in Support

Hungary's governing pro-European Tisza party, led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, has recorded its first noticeable dip in public support since winning April's parliamentary election.

According to a July poll by the Median polling agency, reported by Euractiv, support for Tisza fell from 61% in June to 57% in July, while backing for former prime minister Viktor Orbán's national-conservative Fidesz party edged up to 19%.

Magyar's approval rating as prime minister also declined from 72% to 62%.

Analysts attribute the decline largely to the government's handling of the search for a new president after the early end of Tamás Sulyok's term. Magyar announced chess grandmaster Judit Polgár as his preferred candidate before holding the public consultation he had previously promised, drawing criticism from supporters and opponents alike.

Polgár declined the nomination, and around two-thirds of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the lack of public consultation. Analysts described the episode as the new government's first self-inflicted political setback, while noting that a direct causal link to the drop in support cannot be proven.

In response, Magyar changed his approach and has begun presenting potential presidential candidates for public and media discussion before making a formal nomination. Among those being considered are lawyer Botond Fülöp and historian Ignác Romsics.

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