Karácsony Will Not Continue as Co-President of Párbeszéd Party

Hungary Today 2022.04.08.

Gergely Karácsony announced that he does not intend to run again to be the co-president of Párbeszéd, Bence Tordai, who Karácsony recommended to replace him and who is currently the party’s parliamentary representative, confirmed to Telex.

However, it is not yet certain that Bence Tordai will run for the post. Tordai told Telex that they still need to think about what division of labor will be most effective in the next period within Párbeszéd, and how they can “provide personal guarantees for a credible green policy.” Tordai also said he was honored that Karácsony had recommended him to replace him as president of the party.

I wouldn’t say I’m going to run for the time being. I would say that there is a new situation now where we have to think about this possibility,”

he said.

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According to Telex, a decision on the new presidency of Párbeszéd will be made in about two months’ time. The government-critical news portal reports that Karácsony probably does not want to be co-president again because he would rather concentrate on his duties as mayor, as municipal elections will be held in 2024.

Fact

Karácsony also stepped down in the preliminary elections in favor of Péter Márki-Zay, who became the joint opposition’s candidate for prime minister. Karácsony, however, supported him throughout his election campaign, and was one of the very few opposition politicians who took to the stage on the night of defeat, while others disappeared as if they had nothing to do with either their Prime ministerial candidate or the heavy defeat. The other was Anna Donáth of Momentum; otherwise, Márki-Zay’s family members stood in the background, while the candidate gave his speech.

In any case, Karácsony has previously said: “I am not a good party leader.” He said that his way of working was less suited to making a small party into a medium-sized one, and that he “always tried to avoid the party presidency a little bit,” which his party colleagues were never happy about.

Featured image via Gergely Karácsony’s Facebook page