Saturday 15 may 2021
“Hungary is in trouble”
Budapest mayor wants to replace Orban
Following the apparent victory of Victors Orbán Fidesz in Hungary in the last three parliamentary elections, the six opposition parties see only one chance: they want to replace the head of government together in the 2022 election. The greatest hope is now positioned as a challenge.
Budapest’s extremely popular mayor, Gergali Karaxoni, wants to challenge rightwing nationalist head of government Viktor Orban in the next parliamentary election in Hungary. The liberal politician announced in a Facebook video that he would like to run in the opposition primary for his top candidate. He is now the favorite, which means the 45-year-old is expected to play against Orbán in April next year.
“I think Hungary is in trouble, our country is extremely divided,” Karaxoni says in a video recorded in his home village Nyirtasan, about 270 kilometers from Budapest. “I would like to serve to reunite Hungary.”
The primary is organized by a six-party opposition coalition. This is the first time that a top candidate is being selected in Hungary in this way. Karaxoni is currently considered the most respected opposition politician in the country. Three of the six parties involved had already announced before their candidature that they would support them in the primary.
In the event of a pre-election victory, the 45-year-old will rival Prime Minister Orbán in the next parliamentary election, likely to be held in April next year. In the current elections, the opposition coalition is just ahead of the Fides Party of Orbán. It had clearly won the last three parliamentary elections, which was also due to the fragmentation of the opposing camp. To solve this problem, six opposition parties from left to right now want to run with a common candidate.
