Analysts: PM went too far

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Analysts speculate, that the governing Fidesz party and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán went too far with the proposed introduction of an internet tax, and some said it could lead to the downfall of this government.

When the rally started yesterday, political analyst Gábor Török published a photo on his Facebook page portraying himself and Orbán researching information on the internet via a mobile phone. He added a caption saying: “It's funny that we are checking to see who was given a yellow card on the Turkish team” referring to a football match they both attended. When the rally ended, Török addressed the prime minister saying: “What will OV do now?”

source: Gábor Török's Facebook page

According to Török, the question remains whether there is a viable option in addressing the current situation. He believes that Orbán has gone too far, as he could have done away with the internet tax after the first demostration, thereby saving the reputation of the party and himself, but he cannot do so anymore. He said that the decision Orbán needs to make is essentially a “double edge sword". Török said that if Orbán reneges now, he will seem weak, and if he does not, continued protests will create a strong and allied opposition.

Another analyst Zoltán Somogyi said that the internet tax may become an Achilles heel for Fidesz, just as “vizitdíj” was for MSZP. According to Somogyi, what makes the whole situation more troubling is that “there is not a single politician in Fidesz who would stand up and say ‘I don’t support this tax because it hurts the party’.”

Political analyst Zoltán Lakner added that even though Fidesz swept the elections, the majority of the country does not support them, and is not satisfied with the current governing party. 

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