"Free Democrat party chairman Gábor Fodor suffered a defeat on Wednesday when caucus leader János Kóka, the man he beat for the party leadership by just two votes at the June 7 party convention, remained in the post. Kóka said no one in the caucus had initiated a no confidence vote against him.Fodor wanted to take over the post of caucus leader after the party convention, suggesting that a party cannot remain “two-headed.” However Kóka refused to step down, saying his support is strongest in the caucus and he could do the most for the party as caucus leader. An impasse developed, as most of the senior officials back Fodor, while most Free Democrat MPs support Kóka, who called for an ending to the power struggle within the party and offered his co-operation to Fodor.
Several party officials criticised Budapest mayor Gábor Demszky for calling on Kóka to resign his post on ATV television on Monday night.
Meanwhile Kóka said personnel issues have been removed from the agenda, and Péter Guszto remains his deputy. He said there is no two-fold power in the party, the chairman of which is Fodor, and that is accepted by all, Népszabadság writes."
Source: Hungary Around the Clock.
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26.06.2008