Péter Márki-Zay

Government-allied pollsters regularly predict a comfortable 5-7 per cent lead for the government over the united opposition. Yet op-eds in the many government-loyal media outlets reveal proper anguish, if not sometimes even outright panic, in the Fidesz ranks.

"I wish to have a government of experts, where not party loyalty but expertise and leadership skills would count," he tells BIRN, adding that he has no doubt that his position in the coalition as prime minister would remain solid.

Marki-Zay, or MZP as he's known more colloquially, was polling so poorly before the first round of the primaries on September 18-28 that it seemed highly unlikely he would be among the top three candidates to make it through to the second and final round held on October 10-16. But then he did, with only 21 per cent of the vote.