Re: Duncan Welch, Internal affairs: Is Fidesz to shake-up its leadership?, The Budapest Sun, Jan 25, 2007
Fidesz, like most mainstream political parties, has a good handful of politicians and outspoken supporters who would much prefer to see more moderate and centrist figures at the helm of Hungary's largest opposition party.
Mária Schmidt may just be one of them, along with Zoltán Pokorni, János Áder, Antal Rogán and possibly Lajos Kósa.
The problem is that, with the Socialists trailing Fidesz according to all opinion polls, there will probably be very little impetus for potential party critics and reformers to grab the reins of power, still firmly held by Viktor Orbán.
This is not to say that Orbán is untouchable, but he and his entourage still wield significant power on the right.
The fact that the editors of one of Hungary's largest dailies would actually cede their editorial pages to totally unknown individuals, writing under pennames, in order to out and publically humiliate individuals who may be contemplating breaking ranks with the Fidesz leadership is the best evidence of Orbán's continued influence.
It is also stunning evidence of some rather unorthodox editorial practices on the part of some newspaper editors. Sadly, Fidesz and affiliated newspapers have apparently yet to learn that stifling debate and criticism is not healthy for any party, and vacating the center of the political spectrum will not win them any extra points in elections.
Perhaps these problems are just growing pains in Hungary's still rather young parliamentary democracy and there is, after all, still time to change things on the right before the next general election.
So let's give Fidesz's politicians a break, especially those, like Péter Szijjártó, who have taken a real liking to the cameras, television interviews and annoying media stunts, and hope that they spend the cold winter nights snuggled up in their homes with a nice coffee, tea and a warm blanket, reading a good piece of science fiction.
Christopher Adam
Ottawa, Canada