Hungary’s Socialist Party (MSZP) announced Friday it will not field candidates in the upcoming April 12 parliamentary elections, opting instead to endorse rivals it believes have the best chance of defeating candidates from the ruling Fidesz party. The move is part of a broader effort by opposition parties to consolidate support and maximize their chances of a government change.
The MSZP’s National Executive Committee has recommended to the party’s Congress that it sit out the election, arguing that a unified opposition strategy is crucial for success. “The vast majority of the Hungarian left today believes that in order to achieve a change in government, only the candidate with the most votes in each individual constituency should run against the Fidesz candidate,” the party said in a statement.
The party will, however, actively support specific candidates in several key districts. These include Kunhalmi Ágnes in Budapest’s 8th constituency, Vajda Zoltán in the 14th, Dr. Hiller István in the 16th, and Szabó Sándor in the 1st constituency of Csongrád-Csanád county. In all other districts, the MSZP is urging its supporters to vote for whichever candidate is best positioned to defeat the Fidesz nominee.
The decision comes as several smaller parties have also announced they will not compete in the elections, further streamlining the opposition field. These withdrawals include Momentum, the Humanists, the Second Reform Era party led by Gábor Vona, LMP, and the Solution Movement. The Párbeszéd–Zöldek party also announced earlier this month it would not participate.
The MSZP also stated its intention to campaign against a potential coalition government between Fidesz and Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland), a far-right party. “As the only responsible left-wing party in Hungary, we will be there after the election to represent our own left-wing program, to enforce it after the change of government, and to hold the new government accountable for the values of solidarity, humanity, and equal opportunity,” the party said. The MSZP added that if a government change is achieved, a new electoral system should be developed immediately.
- In Budapest’s 8th constituency, which includes the 19th district, Fidesz–KDNP is running Pest County Chief Ispán Richárd Tarnai, while the Tisza Party has nominated Gabriella Virágh, a general practitioner. Mi Hazánk has place forward György Fekete, and DK (Democratic Coalition) is running András Ternyák.
- Budapest’s 14th constituency, largely covering the 16th district, will see Kristóf Szatmáry, the deputy leader of the Fidesz faction, as the ruling party’s candidate. The Tisza Party is challenging him with Alexandra Szabó, a physician and clinical drug research project manager. Mi Hazánk has nominated László Zsidró, and DK is running Olivio Kocsis-Cake.
- In Budapest’s 16th constituency (mostly the 23rd district), Fidesz–KDNP is fielding Gyula Földesi, while the Tisza Party has nominated Zoltán Tarr. Attila Kovács of Mi Hazánk and Amir Attila Bányai of DK are also running in this district.
- In Csongrád-Csanád county’s 1st constituency, in Szeged, Levente Farkas, a municipal representative, is the Fidesz–KDNP candidate, while the Tisza Party is running Péter Stumpf, a university lecturer. Tamás Timár of Mi Hazánk and Béla Nagy of DK are also competing in Szeged.
The MSZP’s decision underscores the challenges facing Hungary’s opposition as they attempt to unseat the long-ruling Fidesz party. The move highlights a growing recognition that a fragmented opposition could play into the hands of the incumbent government.
