Local Socialist brands leader’s reaction to by-election loss ‘hypocritical’

Budapest (MTI) – The head of the Socialist Party’s local chapter in Dunaujvaros, central Hungary, on Monday branded party leader József Tóbiás “hypocritical” for calling on him to resign after losing a by-election at the weekend.

Sunday’s by-election in Dunaujvaros was held for the mandate of Fidesz local councillor Roland Gál, who had resigned. It was won by Fidesz candidate Fruzsina Lassingleitner, who received 422 votes.

The Socialist Party had chosen to contest the election alone instead of cooperating with other left-wing opposition parties and uniting behind a joint candidate. The leftist opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) finished second with 243 votes, ahead of the radical nationalist Jobbik party in third and the fourth-placed Socialist Party.

Attila Pintér said Tóbias’ call for his resignation was “strange” because the party leader, citing a private opinion poll three weeks prior to the election, said it would be “an excellent decision” to run their own candidate and turn down cooperation with DK. Pintér said the poll had indicated the Socialists had had the most electable candidate.

Tbiás said his party had made an “organisational error” by allowing its Dunaújváros chapter to dictate the election strategy. The Socialist Party had to support their decision, but it ultimately turned out to be the wrong one from the electorate’s point of view, Tóbiás said. But he stressed that the party must take responsibility for the loss, and requested that Pintér step down as local leader.