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Opposition Jobbik’s candidate, László Bíró, who lost the by-election in the Borsod 6th district to governing Fidesz’s candidate a year ago, decided to “make the sacrifice” and withdraw from the opposition primaries in favor of another local opposition politician. Bíró believes that Gábor Jézsó, the candidate of MSZP-Párbeszéd parties, has a better chance of defeating Fidesz.
“I hereby take a step back so that the nation and Borsod can take two steps forward. I step back from running in the primary election in favor of [MSZP-Párbeszéd candidate] Gábor Jézsó. I have informed Péter Jakab, Jobbik’s candidate for Prime Minister, of my decision and he has accepted it,” László Bíró announced on Facebook.
In his post, Bíró also urged his party’s supporters to vote for the MSZP-Párbeszéd-backed candidate in the fall primary election.
“From now on, I will work to ensure that the region, led by Gábor Jézsó, and the country, led by Péter Jakab, can finally realize their 30-year dream.”
Bíró was the joint candidate of the united opposition in the 6th constituency of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county in the 2020 by-election. The election had high stakes, as formally ruling Fidesz’s constitutional majority depended on which candidate will take the seat in parliament.
Bíró’s nomination stirred controversy after his racist and anti-Semitic comments on social media were brought to light, for which he later apologized. Following the campaign, he was also accused of corruption after it emerged that only a fraction of the 50 million forints of EU funding his social cooperative had won was used to pay his employees. The larger part was allegedly used for trumped-up purposes or went to his or other associated companies.
Ultimately, the Jobbik candidate lost the by-election in a close contest to governing Fidesz’s candidate, Zsófia Koncz.
Featured photo via László Bíró’s Facebook page