HUNGARY'S ELECTIONS: PARLIAMENTARY SEAT

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000908 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PINR HU SUBJECT: HUNGARY'S ELECTIONS: PARLIAMENTARY SEAT DISTRIBUTION BY PARTY REF: STATE 22644 ¶1. (U) The April 23 second-round elections increased the governing coalition's majority from 10 seats to 34 seats. The to-date breakdown of seats is as follows: (Coalition) (Other) MSZP 186 FIDESZ 164 SZDSZ 18 MDF 11 MSZP-SZDSZ 6 Independent 1 -------------- Total 210 176 FIDESZ has challenges in six individual districts and MSZP has a pending challenge in one (Kecskemet, where the regional election committee has ruled for a re-vote). Final decisions on the challenges by regional election committees or local courts are expected by May 6, but these are not expected to alter the governing coalition's gains. Note: Although not included as part of the coalition, the independent MP (from Somogy County) usually votes with MSZP, and MDF has shown no signs of coordinating with FIDESZ. ¶2. (U) The MSZP-SZDSZ coalition does not have the "super majority" to produce the two-thirds vote necessary to enact constitutional, legal and procedural changes, and PM Gyurcsany will need to diligently court the conservatives in order to pass structural reforms. However, the enhanced majority should ease the passage of basic legislation and also allow a larger number of coalition politicians to be absent without jeopardizing legislative work. Note: During the previous Parliament, MSZP-SZDSZ MPs, (including cabinet ministers) had to carefully orchestrate their travel in order to maintain a majority in plenary sessions. ¶3. (U) Visit Embassy Budapest's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/budapest/index.cfm WALKER