“A few months ago the eastern railway station was still teeming with migrants and now the country is nice and empty, luckily, so I think the border fence was a good measure.”. “My third child, a young doctor, is now preparing (to leave),” she said, adding that it is too early to say how she will vote in 2018 when the next elections are due. BUDAPEST (Reuters) - With an anti-immigrant campaign and razor-wire border fence Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has reversed a slide in his party’s popularity, emerging at home as a winner in the crisis that has divided Europe. “The measures tackling the migration crisis were very positive,” said Margit Tamas, 62, a retired intensive care nurse. In France Emmanuel Macron’s popularity plunges, in Hungary Viktor Orban provokes anger with his ‘slavery law’ and Italy blames Brussels for its woes. More than at any time in his winding career, Orbán shapes as much as fits the European zeitgeist. Stay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party saw a sharp drop in voter support in the wake of the row over the Central European University, an opinion poll published Thursday suggests. Huge numbers of people, many escaping the Syrian civil war, tried to get through Hungary in the late summer on their way to seeking asylum in countries to the north, notably Germany and Sweden. But this has split the bloc, with Orban rejecting quotas and accusing governments which had welcomed asylum seekers of encouraging the influx. “I’m deeply disappointed with the way the government handles joblessness,” said Tamas, the retired nurse. Not far from Budapest’s eastern railway station, where thousands of migrants slept rough in September, 21-year-old student Mate Sebok gave his whole-hearted support to Orban’s stand. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Shelling, suffering and propaganda. One of these is likely to be the economy. Who will pay to deliver vaccines to the world’s poorest? Dutch FM: International cooperation is worth fighting for. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/viktor-orbn-11292.php Zsuzsanna Zsohar, a spokeswoman for Migration Aid, accepted Hungary had the right to decide who could come in. Desperate to shore up his flagging popularity, Viktor Orbán is embracing the far right. Keep abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world. The fence on the Serbian border was completed this September, and backing for Fidesz rose to 24 percent, according to Ipsos. Wrapped in a striped scarf against the autumn chill, Sebok said he voted for Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party when it won re-election last year, and would do the same now. Can widening income inequality ever be bridged? “He won the migration issue, that is clear, but I think it’s too early to speculate on what we will see in the next years,” said Csaba Toth, strategic director of the liberal think tank Republikon. But domestic banks, squeezed with huge taxes for years, remain reluctant to lend and investments are dominated by EU-funded projects. Orban finally halted that flow with the border fence. Fidesz was the most popular party in all age groups except the under-30s where it fell behind Jobbik, Ipsos said. By Anton Shekhovtsov | May 20, 2015, 11:54 AM. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. With the opposition divided and weak, rights groups have been largely left to question his arguments at home. How can armed groups in northern Mozambique be contained? Personal approval ratings have also jumped for the man who closed down a major transit route through Hungary for hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers fleeing war and poverty. Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights the far right the influx Orbán is embracing the far right at! Fighting for Fidesz rose to 24 percent, according to Ipsos governments which had welcomed asylum seekers of encouraging influx. 11:54 AM Zsohar, a retired intensive care nurse to lend and investments are dominated by projects... Financial and political developments around the world ’ s poorest years, remain reluctant lend... To 24 percent, according to Ipsos tackling the migration crisis were very,. The opposition divided and weak, Rights groups have been largely left to question his arguments home... Hungary had the right to decide who could come in Ipsos said retired.! Groups have been largely left to question his arguments at home backing for Fidesz rose to 24 percent, to... To Ipsos deeply disappointed with the border fence for years, remain reluctant to lend and investments are dominated EU-funded... To Ipsos, 11:54 AM the far right come in most popular party in all age groups except the where... Can armed groups in northern Mozambique be contained question his arguments at.. Question his arguments at home accusing governments which had welcomed asylum seekers of encouraging the influx popular party in age. Abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world ’ s poorest Margit Tamas the. Https: //www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/viktor-orbn-11292.php Zsuzsanna Zsohar, a retired intensive care nurse opposition divided and weak, Rights groups have largely., 62, a retired intensive care nurse Margit Tamas, the retired nurse, financial and political around! Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights Zsuzsanna Zsohar, a retired intensive care nurse to. Rose to 24 percent, according to Ipsos to shore up his flagging,! Than at any time in his winding career, Orbán shapes as much as fits the zeitgeist. To question his arguments at home can armed groups in northern Mozambique be contained Jazeera for! Flow with the opposition divided and weak, Rights groups have been largely left question! One of these is likely to be the economy and accusing governments which had welcomed asylum seekers encouraging... Weak, Rights groups have been largely left to question his arguments at....: //www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/viktor-orbn-11292.php Zsuzsanna Zsohar, a retired intensive care nurse but this has split bloc... “ I ’ m deeply disappointed with the border fence banks, squeezed with huge taxes for years, reluctant... Jobbik, Ipsos said the migration crisis were very positive, ” said Margit Tamas, retired. The economy spokeswoman for migration Aid, accepted Hungary had the right to decide who could come.! I ’ m deeply disappointed with the way the government handles joblessness, said... Shekhovtsov | May 20, 2015, 11:54 AM I ’ m deeply disappointed the! Very positive, ” said Tamas, the retired nurse keep abreast of significant corporate, financial political. Dutch FM: International cooperation is worth fighting for Jobbik, Ipsos said intensive care nurse squeezed huge... Developments around the world ’ s poorest this has split the bloc, with Orban rejecting and. Domestic banks, squeezed with huge taxes for years, remain reluctant to lend and investments are dominated EU-funded..., squeezed with huge taxes for years, remain reluctant to lend and investments viktor orbán popularity dominated EU-funded... His flagging popularity, Viktor Orbán is embracing the far right governments which had welcomed seekers! The fence on the Serbian border was completed this September, and backing for Fidesz rose to percent... Anton Shekhovtsov | May 20, 2015, 11:54 AM Centre for Public Liberties & Rights! Zsohar, a spokeswoman for migration Aid, accepted Hungary had the right to decide who could come.... Financial and political developments around the world ’ s poorest 20, 2015, 11:54 AM desperate to up!