Kesz: Veszprem “city of common sense”

Budapest, February 23 (MTI) – Zoltan Kesz, the independent candidate backed by the left-wing parties, said after his by-election win on Sunday that “Veszprem voters have done what the country had asked of them”.

Kesz won Sunday’s by-election in western Hungary with 44.76 percent of the votes cast. Lajos Nemedi, the candidate of the governing Fidesz-Christian-Democrat alliance, received 33.64 percent of the votes, Andrea Varga-Damm, backed by the radical nationalist Jobbik party, won 14.14 percent and Ferenc Gerstmar of the green LMP party 4.57 percent.

Kesz told a press conference after the election win that Veszprem will be known as the “the city of common sense” from now on.

“I feel responsibility to give real criticism to the power-holders and I will,” he said.

Fidesz congratulated the winner in a statement and thanked its activists and voters.

Nemedi told a press conference late on Sunday that the results must be acknowledged and work must continue.

Jozsef Tobias, the leader of the Socialists’ local chapter, said the election was an example of “new social cooperation”. It is now clear that the Socialists can work together with civil organisations, while “insular” parties are doomed to failure, he said.