A center-right party could win a two-thirds parliamentary majority in Hungarian elections Sunday, clearing the way for its plans to fight a deep recession, widespread corruption and government inefficiency, according to AP. Analysts see a strong chance that the Fidesz party will obtain at least 52 seats, giving it a mandate to pass legislation without having to secure support from the opposition. It has pledged to reduce bloated national and local government payrolls, simplify the tax system, grant citizenship to ethnic Hungarians in neighboring countries and halving the number of parliamentary deputies. In its 20th year since the collapse of communism and the 1990 democratic elections, Hungary is paying the price of postponed reforms, costly campaign pledges and the continued appeal of a paternalistic state. Only a loan of ¤20 billion ($27 billion) from the International Monetary Fund and other institutions saved the country from defaulting on its debts in late 2008, while record-high unemployment levels and a recession in which the economy shrunk by 6.7 percent last year present a real challenge for the next government. Fidesz is expected to negotiate with the IMF for a higher budget deficit than the current 2010 target of 3.8 percent of GDP, giving it room to consolidate loss-making state companies and possibly implement modest tax cuts. The party won 52.7 percent of the votes and 206 parliamentary seats in the first round on April 11. -- SPA
