Breaking: Fidesz-backed Szentkirályi withdraws candidacy for Budapest mayor

Alexandra Szentkirályi is withdrawing her candidacy for Budapest mayor and asking her supporters to vote for Dávid Vitézy.

Szentkirályi, the candidate of the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrats, announced her withdrawal on Facebook early on Friday. She asked her supporters to vote for Vitézy as Budapest mayor and for the Fidesz-Christian Democrats list.

Now three candidates, Gergely Karácsony (Párbeszéd-DK-MSZP), Dávid Vitézy (LMP) and András Grundtner (Mi Hazánk Mozgalom/Our Homeland Movement) remain in the race; however, a close fight is expected to be decided between Gergely Karácsony and Dávid Vitézy.

Vitézy and Karácsony reacted

Vitézy, who has been put forward by green opposition party LMP and a local association, said “the first win is there the second will come on Sunday”.

He said on Facebook that when he embarked on his campaign he knew he would have to defeat the government policy associated with transport minister Janos Lazar, “which is stymieing all key developments”, as well as the “national political ambitions” of Gergely Karácsony, the incumbent, “who complains and procrastinates while doing nothing”.

He said that as mayor he would not form a coalition with either Fidesz or the leftist Democratic Coalition. Budapest and the capital’s companies would be “run by professionals rather than failed party cliques”.

“Gyurcsany’s people are off, but Orban’s people can’t take their place either,” he said, referring to the former Socialist prime minister who leads the Democratic Coalition and the current premier, respectively.

Reacting, Karácsony said on Facebook: “So the charade is over.”

He wrote that Szentkirályi’s withdrawal was part of a “dark and cynical political deal” and that Vitézy was “Fidesz’s candidate”.

He called the “deal” a “betrayal” of voters. “Fidesz has betrayed its voters just as it has betrayed Budapest over the last five years,” he added.

Read also:

• Fidesz Budapest mayoral candidate urges cooperation between Budapest leadership and government
• Fidesz mayoral candidate Szentkirályi: I prepare for a job that calls for rolling up my sleeves