Tarlos maintains lead to stay Budapest mayor, says Nezopont

One month ahead of the local elections, incumbent Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos maintains his lead at 50 percent, followed by 42 percent support for joint opposition candidate Gergely Karacsony, pollster Nezopont Institute said on Monday. The poll prepared by interviewing a 1,000 Budapest residents over the phone between September 4 and 14 showed that Tarlos, who is supported by the ruling parties, could perform even better than in 2014 when he received 49 percent, Nezopont said. The majority of Budapest residents, 51 percent, said they were satisfied with Tarlos's work, it added. The poll showed 90 percent of Fidesz supporters in Budapest were in favour of Tarlos who has been the mayor of the city for nine years. Even 22 percent of opposition voters expressed satisfaction with the mayor's work.