Gyurcsány for his part said the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) has made a step forward, but smaller than expected.

“DK has not stepped backwards, but has not advanced as much as it wanted to,” he added. Green party LMP has stood the test in the local elections, its co-leader András Schiffer said, adding, however that he had hoped for a better result. LMP has won enough mandates nationwide that it can “build on its strength”, he said.

Viktor Szigetvári, manager of leftist opposition E-PM’s campaign, said the low turnout in Sunday’s local ballot served as a warning to every democrat. Think-tank Nezőpont said the governing parties had consolidated their positions on all fronts, ranging from the capital city to Hungary’s villages.

Senior analyst Csaba Fodor told MTI the governing parties were more successful in mobilising their supporters, while the left-wing forces, facing grave difficulties in defining themselves, failed to develop a clear-cut strategy or field credible candidates.

Not even in Budapest did they manage to make gains, he said, adding that the centre-left was left behind by Jobbik in several regions.

The loss of local positions would pose a tough challenge for the left wing in preparations for the 2018 general election, he said. “What is at stake for the left wing is no longer crisis management but the prevention of total collapse,” Fodor said.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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MTI photo: Kovács Attila