DK nominates Klára Dobrev for PM

A liberal weekly suggests that Klára Dobrev’s nomination for the opposition primary was a necessity for the Democratic Coalition, while in reality she has no intention of leaving her job as a Member of the European Parliament.

Ms Dobrev (party Chairman Ferenc Gyurcsány’s wife) stands second in recent polls among the hopeful candidates, behind Jobbik leader Péter Jakab who has already announced his intention to run. A third nominee for the autumn opposition primary is Momentum leader András Fekete-Győr. Further potential competitors include Hódmezővásárhely Mayor Péter Márki-Zay and former Fidesz cabinet minister and nuclear physicist József Pálinkás. If none of the nominees get more than 50 per cent of the votes, a run-off will be held with a maximum of three candidates supported by 15 per cent of the votes or more.

In its report on the announcement, hvg.hu quotes unnamed insider sources who see Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony as the most probable joint opposition candidate for Prime Minister. The Democratic Coalition, hvg.hu thinks, had no choice but to nominate Ms Dobrev in order to mobilise their potential base (Mr Gyurcsány said he would not run for Prime Minister). Nevertheless, sources told the liberal site she doesn’t seriously contemplate becoming a candidate for Prime Minister. Those sources are convinced that the primary contest will be won by Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony

Tags: Dobrev, Fekete-Győr, Gyurcsány, Karácsony, Márki-Zay, primaries