Towards the end of 2015, roughly half of all Hungarians (48 percent) thought that, all in all, year 2016 will be a good year for the country. In December 2014, only 34 percent of the total adult population shared this view, therefore nearly one and half times more are optimistic now than a year ago – as Nézőpont Intézet’s most recent polls indicate that were completed at the request of the weekly magazine Heti Válasz.
The majority is optimistic about 2016
Based on Nézőpont Intézet’s poll that was completed at the end of 2014, during a similar period, only every fourth respondent (25 percent) thought that altogether things were going well for the country in 2014. At the end of 2015, however, two-fifth of Hungarians (40 percent) were already satisfied with the previous year, which signaled an obvious improvement.
As far as expectations for 2016, the country’s general future prospects have been viewed even more positively. At the end of 2014, fewer people were optimistic in total (34 percent) than pessimistic (46 percent). However, by the end of 2015, there were unequivocally more of those who thought that all in all, the next year will turn out to be a good one for Hungary (48 percent) and only about one-third of the people (32 percent) remained pessimistic.
In relation to this trend, we also need to consider the changing political climate. At the end of 2014, support for the governing parties was at a low point, however, by the end of 2015, mainly as a result of the national unity that emerged in the wake of the immigration crisis, Fidesz-KDNP’s support base has been reinvigorated. Since general satisfaction with the government’s performance is high and expectations are largely positive, it can be stated at the mid-term point of this cycle that there is no protest mood in the country.
Hungarians acknowledge the economic achievements and are confident about continued expansion
The exceptionally good macroeconomic achievements have effected society’s perception of how the country is doing. According to two-fifth of Hungarians, the country’s situation has improved during the past year (43 percent). The total outlook is also better than in 2014 when twice as many people considered the country’s economic situation as negative (54 percent) compared to the ratio of those who thought that there was some improvement (29 percent).
The people’s assessment regarding the country’s economic prospects in 2016 is even better. More than half (53 percent) think that further improvement can be expected in the economy and only one-fourth (26 percent) anticipate any setbacks in this regard. There was a complete turnaround in public opinion with respect to this issue in a single year since at the end 2014, only 34 percent expected solid economic achievements, while the ratio of pessimists was 46 percent.
Public opinion poll was prepared at the request of Heti Válasz.
Methodology
Nézőpont Intézet’s latest public opinion telephone poll was conducted during December 3-7, 2015 by asking 1000 people. This representative sample pertains to the population age 18 and over, sorted by gender, age, region, settlement type and schooling. In case of samples comprising the responses of 1000 people the maximum margin of error is 3,2 percent.
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