Free Democrat chairman János Kóka yesterday initiated a proposal that could lead to the restaging of last year’s election of senior party officials, the validity of which has recently been thrown into doubt amid allegations of electoral irregularities. Kóka recommended the Free Democrat executive committee to direct the party’s national council to convene an unscheduled conference, which could then lead on to a new ballot at a later party convention.
Kóka stressed at a joint meeting of the executive and the parliamentary caucus that he will submit a proposal to amend the party statutes at the initial convention, which would tighten up election rules and the order of balloting. The newly-elected delegates would then reach a decision on new party leaders.
Kóka’s rival in last year’s election Gábor Fodor, who suspended his party membership on Friday, did not attend. Budapest mayor Gábor Demszky, who according to Magyar Hírlap is in favour of a revote at the earliest possible date, arrived late and left early.
The executive committee gave a vote of confidence to Health Minister Ágnes Horváth, cast ballots in favour of keeping the Ministry, and restated its intention to involve private capital in health care, Népszabadság reports.
The national council will decide on whether to convene the initial party convention on April 5. The first convention would be held in May or June, while the election of a party chairman, 12 senior officials and 20 national council members could take place before the summer.
