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The Hungarian national-conservative opposition party Our Homeland has become the most popular political force in the 18-29 age group, a recent Coninver poll shows. The party entered parliament for the first time only a year ago, yet among the youth, its popularity not only surpassed that of all liberal opposition parties, but of the governing Fidesz as well.
Our Homeland (Mi Hazánk Mozgalom, MHM) is regularly described as far-right or even extreme-right, even though the party wouldn’t subscribe to the traditional left-right dichotomy. Rather, it defines itself as a ‘third way’ political movement. It is true, nonetheless, that—based on conventional thinking—Our Homeland is the only opposition party in the Hungarian parliament that can be positioned right of Fidesz.
Given how the party is being treated as only a fringe faction of radicals in everyday public discourse, the result of the poll came as a shock for many, much like the Swedish Democrats’ spectacular election victory last year. In line with wider European trends, perhaps this signals that—while the establishment wasn’t watching—political parties that were formerly believed to be too extreme by most to even participate in politics have begun to move toward a more mainstream, acceptable position and thus appeal to broader masses, especially capturing the youth.