United Opposition Primary To Decide Orban Opponent Concludes Tomorrow

The second-round primary election for Hungary's 'United Opposition' alliance concludes tomorrow and will decide which of the two remaining candidates faces off against Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the 2022 legislative elections.

• The United Opposition (a permanent coalition name has not yet been selected) is an alliance of parties ranging from the centre-left Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) to the conservative Jobbik party that have banded together in an effort to oust Orban from power.
• Vying for the PM nomination slot are liberal MEP Klara Dobrev from the centrist Democratic Coalition, and independent conservative Mayor of Hodmezovasarhely Pater Marki-Zay. Marki-Zay also has the backing of centre-left candidate Gergely Karacsony, who withdrew from the contest in order not to split the anti-Dobrev vote.
• Given that the United Opposition is such a broad group, disagreement between different wings of the alliance were an inevitability. Dobrev supporters argue that having a liberal candidate will enthuse centrist and centre-left voters come 2022, engendering a larger turnout and ousting Orban for a truly pro-EU candidate. Marki-Zay supporters on the other hand argue that centrists and those on the left will vote for any candidate but Orban, and their candidates more conventional conservative Christian views will be able to win over enough Fidesz supporters to deny Orban a majority.
• The risk for the opposition is that the primary sows more division among the alliance, which could lead to a split before the election that provides Orban and his Fidesz Party with a comfortable re-election.