Minister: joint opposition gave space among its ranks to fascists, communists

In response to a question, Gergely Gulyás, the prime minister’s chief of staff, insisted that Hungary’s left wing no longer comprised democrats.

Assessing opposition politicians’ actions since the elections, he said acceptance of the election outcome was the basis of democracy. He said that over the past 32 years, Fidesz had always congratulated its opponent on winning an election, and it was “the alpha and omega of politics” that voters were always right. This, he added, did not seem to apply to the left wing, which looked to blame voters instead of assessing at its own weaknesses. Further, Gulyás accused the united opposition of

giving space among its ranks “to fascists and communists”.

“Their behaviour on election night and the period since has clearly dissolved illusions that they would be able to govern,” he said. “Not even is there a minimum level of cooperation between these parties.” Gulyás added that it was unreasonable to lay the blame for the opposition’s defeat at the feet of Jobbik. “Many sensibly thinking left-wing voters also knew in advance that the number of the allied opposition’s supporters would not equal the sum of the individual participants’ supporters,” he added.

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Many left-wing voters cast their votes for the allied opposition because they had no other choice.

“But their heart wasn’t in it,”

he said. Voters should not be looked down on, he said, adding that insulting voters would not strengthen the left wing’s already weak democratic traditions.

“I can see chaos on the left on issues that could be clarified with a minimum level of goodwill and professionalism,”