Socialists, DK agree not to challenge one another in individual constituencies

The opposition Socialist Party and the Democratic Coalition (DK) have agreed on coordinated nominations in all the 106 individual constituencies during the 2018 general elections, the two parties’ leaders announced in Budapest on Wednesday.

Socialist leader Gyula Molnár said his party would field a candidate in 60 constituencies and DK in 46. He confirmed that the Socialists’ PM candidate would be Gergely Karácsony, co-leader of the Párbeszéd party.

DK leader Ferenc Gyurcsány said his party had pursued a “predictable, reliable and clear” policy over the past few months. He confirmed that DK would enter a separate party list for the election, one that would be topped by him.

DK does not support any PM candidate featuring on another party’s list, Gyurcsány said.

Both leaders said they wished all democratic opposition parties to agree on a single candidate in each constituency. Molnár said the Socialists are open to cooperating with other democratic partners, too.

The Socialist leader said the two parties’ agreement on dividing the constituencies was based on the results of recent polls.

“I think we have concluded a correct and fair deal,” he said.

In response to a question, Molnár said he saw no reason for opening towards Jobbik and no chance for any cooperation or coordination with it.

Asked why DK rejected a joint list with the Socialists, Gyurcsány said that “an independent list will probably bring more votes than a joint one.”

“The democratic alternative to [Prime Minister Viktor] Orbán is not a single-coloured alternative,” he added.

Asked if he is still nurturing prime ministerial ambitions, Gyurcsány said, “that situation might still arise, I’m still very young, in a good shape. I would not like to rid the right wing of the risk of facing me as a challenger.”

featured image: MTI

Source: MTI