Election 2018 – Socialists-Párbeszéd urge opposition cooperation

The allied Socialist and Párbeszéd parties have urged cooperation within the “democratic” opposition in light of the results of Sunday’s interim municipal election in Hódmezővásárhely, in southern Hungary.

The message of the Hódmezővásárhely election, won by an independent with opposition support, is that an able candidate can defeat ruling Fidesz if turnout at the polls is high, Gergely Karácsony, PM candidate of the Socialist-Párbeszéd alliance told a press conference on Monday. He added that “votes must not be divided up” but cast for the candidate with the highest support.

Socialist leader Gyula Molnár referred to the opposition victory in Hódmezővásárhely as a “serious blow” to Fidesz, and voiced concern that the ruling party might “launch a series of ignoble attacks” on cooperating adversaries. Molnár suggested that an agreement concerning jointly supported candidates should be reached before March 15, ahead of the April 8 general election. He said the Socialists have been “ready to give up positions” and cooperate with other parties to facilitate a government change. He also noted that one third of the Socialists were not party members.