Despite winning an inter-party election a little over a year ago to become Free Democrat (SZDSZ) chairman and then resigning his post as Economy and Transport Minister to become the party’s parliamentary faction leader, the knives seem to have come out for János Kóka. Following his recent defeat in the re-run party chairman elections to Gábor Fodor, the man under whom the party sunk to new depths in terms of popularity is now being attacked by Budapest Mayor Demszky, himself Free Democrat Party chairman for a brief period in the 1990s.
Drawing from an MTI report based on the transcript of an interview on left-leaning television station ÁTV, conservative daily Magyar Nemzet stated that Demszky does not wish the party to have “two heads,” and would prefer power to be consolidated behind one individual, especially considering the party is small.
Demszky added that this should not be misconstrued as a being a move in favor of Fodor over Kóka, adding that had Kóka retained the party chairmanship, he would have asked for Fodor to step back. He added that Kóka should give the post of parliamentary faction leader to either Fodor or someone appointed by Fodor. Demszky expressed his optimism that Kóka would step down of his own volition, but warned that he could be foisted from his post should he refuse to do so.
