"Parallel to the increase in support for Hungary's main opposition party Fidesz after the overwhelming defeat of the governing coalition in the 9 March referendum (on three unpopular reform measures), Fidesz chief Viktor Orbán has also stepped forward in the popularity ranking of Szonda Ipsos.He has become the second favourite politician after President László Sólyom, having scored 4 points more than in the previous poll.
Following the referendum, Sólyom remained the most popular politician and Orbán stepped forward to snatch the silver medal, which he couldn't achieve since the summer of 1998, after parliamentary elections. He currently boasts 49 points, 4 pts more than in February, the latest poll of Szonda Ipsos showed on Monday.
Orbán gathered 19 points from Socialist voters, six more than in February, while the supporters of the junior governing coalition SZDSZ gave him 20 pts, nine more than a month ago.
His support from within the voting base of Fidesz he has once again been given 78 points. His support in Budapest grew by 16 points from a month ago.
The popularity index of most politicians in the governing coalition declined after the referendum (1-2 pts during March).
SZDSZ Chairman János Kóka and soon-to-be-sacked Health Minister Ágnes Horváth remained the least-liked politicians, with 43 and 39 points, respectively. Fidesz sympathisers gave 18 pts to Kóka and 9 pts to Horváth. From those with no party preference, they gathered 24 and 19 pts, respectively."
Source: Portfolio Online Financial Journal
01.04.2008