The 2006 Hungarian election: economic competitiveness versus social solidarity

Abstract

This article argues that while voters typically respond to sharply focused images more than theoretical propositions, in Hungary during the 2006 elections economic issues became crucial, as evinced by the lengths to which Hungarian politicians went to substantiate such issues. To verify this argument, this article analyses the discourse within the political elite regarding the future course of capitalism in Hungary. It focuses in particular on the discourse of the four major Hungarian political parties regarding social solidarity and economic competitiveness in the context of Hungary's convergence with the Maastricht criteria and eurozone accession. The article suggests that economic competitiveness and solidarity are relevant themes not only for current debates in Hungary, but also for the future of the European Union's constitution.