[ad_1]
A small-town conservative and the father of seven children will lead a coalition of six opposition parties in next year’s parliamentary vote.
A non-partisan Hungarian political outsider will compete with Prime Minister Victor Orban in next year’s parliamentary election after winning the opposition primary on Sunday.
The small-town conservative Peter Maki-Zay defeated the left-wing Clara Dobrev, who promised to support him under the leadership of a coalition of six opposition parties.
“We can only win together,” Maki-Zay, his wife and seven children standing behind him, said to cheering supporters.
“This is a battle, but we must also win this war,” he said, referring to the 2022 election.
The vote will determine 199 seats in the Hungarian Parliament, which is expected to be held in April.
Dobrev admitted defeat and supported his former opponent. He said at the press conference: “I hope he has a lot of power… as we try to overthrow Victor Orban and then disintegrate his regime.”
Although the final result will be announced later on Sunday, Marki-Zay’s lead seems impeccable. After accounting for 60% of the votes, he leads by approximately 58-42%.
Marki-Zay’s image of a family man and Christian faith may attract many hesitant voters. He has been trying to portray himself as a favorite choice for left-wing and conservative voters, campaigning to lead a “clean” coalition and promising to eradicate corruption.
Opinion polls show that Orban’s conservative Fidesz party and the opposition coalition go hand in hand.
As an economist and engineer who has lived in the United States and Canada for five years, Marki-Zay became famous after winning the mayoral election in his southern hometown of Hodmezovasarhely (Fidesz party base) in 2018.
For the first time since taking office in 2010, Orbán will face the united front of opposition parties, including socialists, liberals and the former far-right, now the center-right Jobik.
Although Orban has a series Dispute with the European Union, Marki-Zay is seeking to improve relations with Brussels and supports Hungary in adopting the euro in the foreseeable future.
[ad_2]
Source link