Fidesz defends mandate
Elections had to be called in Dombóvár after the popular state secretary Árpád János Potápi, who had held the direct mandate in parliament since 1998 (!), died suddenly and unexpectedly in October. However, Krisztina Csibi achieved an election victory for Fidesz worthy of her predecessor: she won with just under 12,000 votes cast, or just under 64%. Dóra Dúró from the right-wing Mi Hazánk came second (19%) and László Takács from the DK third (11%). Another three candidates each achieved around 2% of the vote.
Csibi will strengthen Fidesz’s two-thirds majority in parliament. She is expected to take her oath on the first day of the spring session, which is scheduled to begin at the end of February.
Mi Hazánk celebrated its 2nd place as a complete success, as it was clearly recognised by the voters as the strongest force among the opposition parties. Dóra Dúró declared that it was becoming increasingly successful in establishing itself as an alternative to Fidesz. The DK described the double-digit result in a stronghold of the right as a respectable success. Former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány’s party hopes to use the result to recommend itself for a possible early election or the regular parliamentary elections in 2026, as a force that no one who wants to replace Fidesz can ignore.
Exchange of blows from the sidelines
The leader of the Tisza party, which stayed away from the by-election, commented that the voter turnout of less than 35% was disappointing for Fidesz, which had aimed for 45-50%. The ‘state party’ had failed in its attempt to mobilise its own voters, said Péter Magyar. The communications director of Fidesz-KDNP, Tamás Menczer, countered that only losers ‘or those who don’t dare to run in the first place have to explain themselves. The Tisza is not swelling, it’s drying up!’