Hungary’s right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban admitted „significant losses“ to his FIDESZ at the local election on Sunday. The scandal surrounding Györ’s FIDESZ mayor Zsolt Borkai may also have played a role, Orban told Hir-TV.
„It’s not my business to break the bar on the private life of a Hungarian citizen or politician,“ Orban commented on the sex and corruption scandal involving Borkai. Nevertheless, it was his duty as party leader to show that certain things in the party were not allowed. That’s why Borkai is no longer a member of FIDESZ.
The prime minister did not agree that Borkai would continue to be mayor of Gyor. Borkai could not be recalled before the election as mayor candidate, as the Györer would have had no choice in the case, Orban argued. The PM further emphasized that the government is seeking cooperation with the newly elected mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karacsony. The previous agreements with the mayor, Istvan Tarlos, remained valid.
