BUDAPEST, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian opposition parties have announced to join forces in the local elections in October in order to have better chances at defeating candidates of the ruling Fidesz party, local media reported here on Friday.
"Six opposition parties, MSZP (socialist), Dialogue (Green), DK (left-liberal), Jobbik (right, formerly far right), LMP (Green) and Momentum (liberal) agreed to launch jointly supported candidates in all municipal districts in the autumn municipal elections," Hungarian news agency MTI reported.
"The parties involved agreed to have only one opposition candidate challenging Fidesz candidates in all of Budapest's 23 districts," said Gergely Karacsony, the candidate of the opposition parties for the post of the mayor of Budapest, quoted by MTI.
On June 27, Karacsony won a pre-election among opposition candidates to become the sole candidate to challenge current Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos.
Although ruling Fidesz party is largely the most popular party in Hungary, it is less strong in the capital city and if opposition parties unite, Karacsony could have a real chance at defeating Tarlos, according to local pollsters.
"The era of rivalry within the opposition has ended, we look forward to working together and changing Budapest," Karacsony said after winning the pre-election.
Similar cooperation agreements have been signed and are currently being negotiated in all of Hungary's major cities, ahead of the local elections.
