Giving the reasons for the move, party spokesman Ádám Mirkóczki said that the current board had accomplished its mission of stabilising voter support and turning Jobbik into a leading opposition force. In the next phase, Jobbik should prepare for governing after the 2018 general elections, and Vona wants to have “new faces”, including mayors, among his deputies.

The move does not signal confrontation between radicals and moderates within the party, Sneider said, adding that the three other deputy leaders will remain “important personalities” in Jobbik. Party leader Vona, however, wants to include in the board people, for instance mayors, who can “operate systems”, Sneider said. Novák told online news portal index.hu that he was “shocked” and surprised by Vona’s decision.

István Szávay said on Facebook earlier that he might consider seeking re-election if he “feels” to have enough support by party members. He said he considered himself neither a radical, nor a hardliner, nor someone who would stand in Jobbik’s way to become a governing party. István Apáti told television news channel Hír TV that he had decided to seek re-election since he “perceived” a strong backing by party members.

According to press reports, lawmaker Enikő Hegedűs has decided to run for the post of deputy leader, despite Vona’s request to abandon such a plan. Novak later confirmed that he intends to run for another term as deputy leader and has asked Vona to reconsider his position on the matter. He said he felt like he had been “stabbed in the back” because he never questioned Vona’s authority as party leader or disobeyed him.

“Obviously I have accepted that he [Vona] can appoint his advisors ... or the people he holds town hall meetings with ... but I don’t think he should be allowed to shape the party to his own image or remove those who have opposing views,” Novak said.

He said he respected Vona’s desire to work with other people, but added that exercising a veto against three people was a circumvention of the party’s competition rules.

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MTI photo: Krizsán Csaba