Election 2018 – LMP withdraws candidate accepting recommendations from Fidesz

Green opposition LMP said it has withdrawn János Barta, its candidate for the April 8 general election in Budapest’s 14th district after he admitted to have accepted recommendations collected by ruling Fidesz.

There is evidence of Fidesz abusing personal data of voters, and “no opposition party should assist in these practices”,

LMP said in a statement, adding that any such practices should be reported to the police.

Since Barta has breached that rule, LMP will suspend his membership and start a procedure to exclude him from the party, the statement said.

Under Hungarian law, prospective candidates must secure 500 supporter signatures to run in an individual constituency in the general elections. Barta told commercial Civil Radio on Wednesday that Fidesz had also collected recommendations for him in the campaign, “even if I had not asked for it. I was also surprised. By the way, I didn’t need them because I had submitted the required number of recommendations beforehand.”

Fidesz said in a statement that its local organisation had not assisted LMP or its candidate “in any way”. Fidesz has “observed all regulations”, the statement said, and called on all parties and candidates to “take the necessary legal steps” in case of any violation.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI