One MP has vowed to quit the Democratic Forum after the party national council narrowly voted to place former finance minister Lajos Bokros atop the party’s list of candidates for June’s European parliamentary elections. He is followed by György Habsburg, grandson of Hungary’s last King, the last Austrian Emperor.
If MP András Csáky carries out his threat to leave, then the Forum’s parliamentary group will lose official caucus status, as it will be reduced from ten MPs to nine. Csáky is expected to make a statement today on whether he will return his mandate or become an independent MP. He was elected to Parliament from the Forum’s national list.
Péter Olajos, the party’s only MEP, announced his departure after he was excluded from the list finalised on Saturday.
In the voting, 48 council members voted for Bokros and Habsburg and 44 voted against them.
Bokros told MTV’s “Freedom of Speech” programme on Sunday night that he had received the fairest and most honourable offer from the Forum by being allowed to lead its list of MEP candidates. The Forum recognises that the values, directions and the policies he represents could provide a basis for bringing about a modern Hungary, he said.
