Socialists search for “sacrificial lamb” prime ministerial candidate

The Socialist Party is already trying to figure out who to name as its prime ministerial candidate for next year’s elections, index.hu reports. Some of the names being tossed around are those of Socialist heavyweights (L-R) József Gráf, Katalin Szili, László Kovács and Attila Mesterházy, while some would prefer an outsider such as Ferenc Glatz or Péter Bárándy. According to the piece, one of the prerequisites is that the nominee should not be easily associated with former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, for rather obvious reasons.

Of the two biggest names, Kovács comes with plenty of baggage, and Szili is considered too moderate for a party that will be trying to go back toward the left (I assume in the Hungarian sense and not the Anglo-American understanding of “left-wing”). As for the younger generation, Budapest vice mayor Miklós Hagyó was expected to be a big shot within the party until nearly every Budapest public transport scandal this summer was tied to his name.

The article singled out Socialist parliamentary faction leader Attila Mesterházy as a possible compromise candidate within the party, although so far Mesterházy has been unwilling to throw his hat into the ring. This could possibly be because whoever is the candidate is certain to lose. The Socialists only have to decide on a candidate by mid-December, but it’s no surprise no one wants the post, and not just because of the new anti-corruption package.