Election 2018 – Opposition parties reach no agreement in first round of talks

The opposition Socialist-Párbeszéd alliance, the LMP and the Democratic Coalition (DK) have reached no agreement in their first round of talks on cooperation in the April 8 general election.

DK chairman Ferenc Gyurcsány invited the leaders of the alliance, LMP and Jobbik in a speech delivered on Hungary’s national holiday on March 15. Jobbik has rejected to participate in the talks.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Gergely Karácsony, the prime ministerial candidate of the Socialists-Parbeszed alliance, said they expected it to be “just a beginning of a process” yielding no final accord yet. He, however, called it “a great step forward” that the talks started at all.

“We acknowledge that Jobbik is unwilling to engage in talks,” he said.

Gyurcsány said DK “understands” LMP’s efforts to “seek election cooperation with Jobbik as well” in a separate move, but added that “the fundamental criterion of replacing the incumbent government is a cooperation pact among the three parties that took part in Sunday’s talks.”

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Bernadett Szél, LMP’s PM candidate, said the government can only be replaced through a coordinated effort by all opposition parties, adding that “there is no other force, but LMP that is committed to that option”.

Szél said earlier she would hold consultations with Jobbik leader Gábor Vona on Monday.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTi