HUNGARY: Hungary's Socialist prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany was adjudged yesterday to have out-pointed his centre-right rival in a testy pre-election debate, but opinion polls can hardly separate their parties ahead of Sunday's first round of voting.
Mr Gyurcsany, an admirer of British premier Tony Blair and his "third-way" politics, justified his reputation as a quick-thinker and smooth media operator by tearing into Fidesz party rival Viktor Orban from the start.
Challenging Mr Orban's record as prime minister from 1998 to 2002 and denouncing his current campaign as negative, backward-looking and stuffed with impossible promises, Mr Gyurcsany surprised analysts with his attack.
While he looked his opponent in the eye and spoke with force, Mr Orban seemed more hesitant and nervous, glancing around the studio, sometimes addressing the moderators, sometimes the camera - but rarely Mr Gyurcsany.
However, in a country where many people view the ex-communist Mr Gyurcsany with suspicion for the fortune he made after communism's collapse in 1989, some thought Mr Orban's more downbeat tone could win votes from the hectoring premier.
"It may sound contradictory, but while Gyurcsany won the debate, he wasn't victorious," said political analyst Gabor Torok. "He was much more dominant, but I'm not sure that his style won't have the opposite effect on viewers."
Political scientist Ferenc Kumin agreed. "Gyurcsany was well-prepared for the debate, he looked Orban in the eye the whole time. The latter did not react and only recited his own monologues," Mr Kumin said.
"But the way Gyurcsany attacked Orban was risky, because Orban maybe chose a passive role deliberately, to gain the viewers' sympathy. But, in the end, the debate mostly helped the Socialists' campaign."
Mr Orban (42) repeated a now-familiar question, asking Hungarians to consider whether they lived better now than four years ago, and criticised the Socialists for neglecting health and education services while running up a huge budget deficit.
He also said a Fidesz government would increase the minimum wage to 100,000 forints (€375) from 62,500 forints (€235), as well as reintroduce tax discounts for families and slash payroll tax to encourage investment and job-creation.
"I don't believe radical payroll tax-cuts will mean more employment," countered Mr Gyurcsany (44).
"Investment and development, this is the key," he said, pledging to look to Russia and Asia as well as to the US and the rest of the EU - for economic partners.
Mr Orban struck a more parochial note, promising to protect Hungarian businesses and farmers. This chimes with many people who have felt little benefit from the free market, EU membership and increasing globalisation.
Surveys show the Socialists have come from behind to hold a slender lead over Fidesz, going into Sunday's first round of voting.