Orbán says Hungary’s national security threatened by “coup” plot aided by international diplomats, media [39]
July 16th, 2009

Former SZDSZ chairman says party’s end is near

“The history of the Free Democrats will come to its end in the near future,” former chairman Iván Pető told alternative weekly Magyar Narancs in an interview. “The way Gábor Fodor became chairman, using accusations of election fraud, his way of chairing the party and his resignation are scandalous,” Pető declared.

Over 200 Free Democrats have signed a letter protesting against the policy and style of new chairman Attila Retkes, who was elected on Sunday.

The 229 signatories call on the new party leadership to stop all activities that have already caused considerable harm to the party. Among others, Alajos Dornbach, Miklós Hankó-Faragó, Gábor Világosi, Eighth District mayor Béla Csécsei and Budaörs mayor Tamás Wittinghof signed the letter. Csécsei quit the party yesterday.

Budapest mayor Gábor Demszky announced that he will not take part in the party’s national policy making, because that is the purview of the new chairman and senior governing board. Demszky said he will focus on Budapest issues only.

Former MEP István Szent-Iványi said on MTV’s “Nap-kelte” Wednesday morning that he will not take Fodor’s parliamentary seat offered to him by Retkes, saying there is too little time left before the next elections.

One of the party’s new leading officials, Károly Szentkuti, suggested that the party change its name to Magyar Szabadelvűek Szövetsége (Hungarian Liberal Association) – New Free Democrats.

Szentkuti also called on caucus leader János Kóka to resign, echoing Retkes.

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One Comment

  1. beju says:

    There should be a law enacted forcing them to keep all together for later easy prosecution as a group of criminals against Hungary and the Hungarian nation.
    It’d make more convenient for shooting them one by one into the Danube from the ignonimous art-defying shoes they have loved to present as a victimized piec of society. They have done nothing wrong, and they are always victimized. Let me …just wipe my tears away before continuing…
    If the shoes fit, hell it is a good piece of sculpture to be dispatched from.