In his address, Gyurcsány pledged a “more peaceful, tranquil, European and bourgeois country” in return for voter support. He said some of Hungary’s politicians were “trapped in the past” but DK focuses on the future in which “successful people are appreciated and the poorest are aided”.

Gyurcsány pointed to splits within the opposition and warned that “if they do their job badly in the next seven months, [ruling] Fidesz could again win a two-thirds majority” but said that successful efforts by the opposition could reduce support for the ruling parties to below one third.

He said that the current electoral system is “neither free nor fair” but suggested that an opposition victory was still possible.

He also warned that boycotting the election would equate to “capitulating” before Fidesz.

DK is open to cooperation with the “democratic” parties “without any preconditions”, Gyurcsány said. He suggested that small parties that are not likely to clear the parliamentary threshold of 5% of the votes could have joint national lists, while the leftist parties should only field one candidate in each of the 106 constituencies.

In reaction, Fidesz said that “Gyurcsány is busy implementing the plan of [US financier George] Soros” under which Hungary’s border fence would be “dismantled” and “migrants would be allowed to enter”.

Fidesz’s communications chief Balázs Hidvéghi insisted that DK “actively participates in attacks from Brussels against Hungary” and in setting up a European agency “organising immigration”.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Soós Lajos