The Socialist Party continues to regard the Free Democrats as a partner and is open to future co-operation, party chairman and Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány said in a statement following the election of Gábor Fodor as party leader. He congratulated Fodor on his victory.
Fidesz is ready to discuss early elections with Fodor, spokesman Péter Szíjjártó said, as having a minority government is against Hungary’s interests, and is viewed as unfair toward the nation. He said the economic and social crisis is deepening, therefore it is in Hungary’s interest to hold early elections.
Democratic Forum deputy chairman Zoltán Hock said the Forum expects the Free Democrats to give ordinary people honest answers as to whether it has quit the coalition for good and whether it wants to work as a genuine opposition party following a campaign “fraught with conflicting statements”.
The election of Fodor as party chairman has opened the possibility for the party to return to the basic features that characterized it at the change of regime, the Christian Democrats said.
