Left-wing opposition calls for joint candidate for Budapest mayor

Parties of the opposition should field a joint candidate for the post of Budapest mayor in next year's municipal elections, representatives of the Socialist, Democratic Coalition (DK), Parbeszed parties and of the Solidarity movement told a press conference on Thursday. Zsolt Molnar, head of the Budapest chapter of the Socialist Party, said that independent candidate Robert Puzser, backed by opposition LMP, would not participate in the pre-election procedure in January but indicated his readiness to step down if the winner of the pre-election has higher chances of winning the mayoral post. The Socialists now back Csaba Horvath, but will "respect the results of the selection and support the winner," Molnar said. DK and Parbeszed have not made nominations as yet.