If I understand recent developments correctly, Magyar is declining an opportunity to hold some power in the Budapest assembly. This strikes me as potentially wise, and also revealing of his strategy.
He has seen that holding (or having held) some power makes you a very easy target for Fidesz. Since they control most of the media, they can attack with any nonsense (because no pushback), with the goal to just form some link between their attack target and the problems of voters. By declining power, Magyar keeps himself somewhat immune from this: he can't be the source of problems because he hasn't been in power.
The old political model, in democracies, was to gain prominence first by gaining a foothold in power, then using it effectively and growing from there. It strikes me that Magyar is doing something different: gaining prominence through online messaging, while remaining immune to criticisms of his past or present policy actions, because there are none. This may in turn allow voters to project onto him what they want to see when the next General Election comes around. In this light, declining the possibility of power in the Budapest assembly may be canny indeed.
Does that ring true to you? I am an outsider (I'm British) so I may be missing important aspects.
He certainly holds his cards close to his chest. You are right, he doesn't really needs power till 2026. But he surely needs to remain the crediple promise for a change.
Yes, he needs to decline power credibly, not just willy-nilly.
Related: he has taken seats at the EU. This provides some credibility as an elected official, while not being linked to the day-to-day concerns of voters. It's won't be realistic for Fidesz to say the rising price of potatoes in the Hungarian countryside is because of Magyar's actions as a parliamentarian in Brussels.
“their stronger candidate, Dávid Vitézy” Fidesz removed their candidate from the competition just days before the election (when she was about to run 3rd, unacceptable for a ruling party), and indeed told their voters to vote Vitézy instead. But Vitézy himself (and other reputable sources) still deny the claim that he had been Fidesz’s candidate all along.
To be even more clear: Vitézy also denied _any_ coordination with Fidesz. So I consider this wording (i.e. “their stronger candidate”) highly incorrect, based on unconfirmed speculation.
If I understand recent developments correctly, Magyar is declining an opportunity to hold some power in the Budapest assembly. This strikes me as potentially wise, and also revealing of his strategy.
He has seen that holding (or having held) some power makes you a very easy target for Fidesz. Since they control most of the media, they can attack with any nonsense (because no pushback), with the goal to just form some link between their attack target and the problems of voters. By declining power, Magyar keeps himself somewhat immune from this: he can't be the source of problems because he hasn't been in power.
The old political model, in democracies, was to gain prominence first by gaining a foothold in power, then using it effectively and growing from there. It strikes me that Magyar is doing something different: gaining prominence through online messaging, while remaining immune to criticisms of his past or present policy actions, because there are none. This may in turn allow voters to project onto him what they want to see when the next General Election comes around. In this light, declining the possibility of power in the Budapest assembly may be canny indeed.
Does that ring true to you? I am an outsider (I'm British) so I may be missing important aspects.
He certainly holds his cards close to his chest. You are right, he doesn't really needs power till 2026. But he surely needs to remain the crediple promise for a change.
Yes, he needs to decline power credibly, not just willy-nilly.
Related: he has taken seats at the EU. This provides some credibility as an elected official, while not being linked to the day-to-day concerns of voters. It's won't be realistic for Fidesz to say the rising price of potatoes in the Hungarian countryside is because of Magyar's actions as a parliamentarian in Brussels.
It also gives him immunity, which is immensely important in a country where the prosecutor's office is under direct political control.
I haven’t really thought about that, but sounds a reasonable explanation for me
Mi Hazánk is usually translated as Our Homeland (Movement)
(I don't like them at all but an international audience understands it better if there's only one translation)
“their stronger candidate, Dávid Vitézy” Fidesz removed their candidate from the competition just days before the election (when she was about to run 3rd, unacceptable for a ruling party), and indeed told their voters to vote Vitézy instead. But Vitézy himself (and other reputable sources) still deny the claim that he had been Fidesz’s candidate all along.
Vitézy and Szentkirályi (the ex fidesz candidate) are fighting each other on Instagram right now btw
To be even more clear: Vitézy also denied _any_ coordination with Fidesz. So I consider this wording (i.e. “their stronger candidate”) highly incorrect, based on unconfirmed speculation.
*Our Count*r*y
Unfollow the fermented vegetables posting friends. They seem to be dangerous 🙂
https://media.rss.com/partizanpodcast/2024_06_18_09_41_04_5ecf8079-70d0-42fc-9706-7f47b529368a.mp3