Kuria: state bodies do not have to be neutral in election campaign

State bodies are not required to remain neutral during an election campaign under the constitution, the Kuria, Hungary's supreme court, said on Monday, approving a National Election Committee ruling that had rejected a complaint by opposition candidate for Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony. Karacsony submitted a complaint to the Metropolitan Election Committee because Gergely Gulyas, the head of the prime minister's office, had told a press briefing on September 12 that an agreement between current Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos and Prime Minister Viktor Orban was a political agreement which was "valid only between those two". Gulyas also said that "in order to be suitable for the post of Budapest mayor one must seek cooperation with the government and someone like Gergely Karacsony, who rejects the possibility of cooperation and considers the post as an opportunity for fighting a battle, is not suitable."