Socialist deputy caucus leader Béla Katona will succeed Speaker Katalin Szili when party MPs decide on her successor in early September, Socialist sources told index.hu on Monday.
Leading party officials had reportedly earlier decided that Katona would have been nominated for the post if Szili had won the mayoral race in Pécs in May.
Szili announced on Saturday that she will step down before Parliament resumes on September 14.
Katona earlier said he plans to retire in 2010. He has been an MP since 1990.
The opinions of several bodies, including the party executive, will be heard before the caucus decides on July 28 on who will succeed Szili, said deputy caucus leader István Göndör.
Socialist sources outlined several scenarios regarding Szili’s political future, Magyar Nemzet reports. One possibility is that she could form a new left-wing party. Another is that she could seek the post of party leader or be the Socialist candidate for prime minister. Another theory is that Szili could step back and await a probable election fiasco for the party next year before coming forward again.
Fidesz deputy speaker János Áder will be succeeded by Fidesz deputy chairwoman Ildikó Gáll Pelcz. Áder has been elected an MEP.
