DK Internal Conflict: MP’s Party Expels Candidate Amidst Bribery Claims
A deepening internal conflict within the Hungarian opposition has erupted following the unexpected withdrawal of Rita Kopping, the Democratic Coalition’s (DK) candidate in Kecskemét’s parliamentary constituency. The fallout included a public accusation of blackmail leveled by DK leader Klara Dobrev against Tisza Party head Péter Magyar, and Kopping’s subsequent expulsion from the DK.
The dispute escalated Saturday with a Facebook post from Alexandra Bodrozsán Siposné, a DK representative in Kecskemét, directly challenging the narrative presented by the party leadership. Bodrozsán asserted that the claims of coercion were based on “deliberate falsehoods.” She stated that there are no members of the Tisza Party within their faction, thus undermining the allegations of blackmail. She also pointed out that control over committee positions, allegedly used as leverage against Kopping, rests with the Fidesz-majority city council, not the DK faction.
Bodrozsán sharply criticized what she described as “ungrateful and unworthy” treatment of Kopping after 13 years of service, noting that her access to the DK’s Kecskemét Facebook page had been revoked without official notification.
Her post took on the tone of a political testament, calling for her own expulsion from the party in solidarity with Kopping. Bodrozsán declared she would be proud to be associated with Kopping and stated she could no longer recommend the DK’s party list to voters in Kecskemét.
The initial accusation came in the form of a public letter from Dobrev to Magyar, as reported by HVG.hu, alleging that Tisza Party operatives were employing “unacceptable and even illegal methods” to pressure DK candidates into withdrawing from the race. Dobrev claimed that while most candidates were resisting, Kopping had “broken” and “chosen money and position” over principle. She questioned whether Magyar believed the tactics of the ruling Fidesz party were necessary to defeat other opposition parties.
Magyar responded swiftly, according to reports in Nepszava, dismissing the accusations as “baseless and false.” He stated that the Tisza Party’s focus was on defeating Fidesz, and that they would not engage with such claims. His response consisted of a laughing emoji and a rejection of the allegations.
The events follow a pattern of withdrawals from the upcoming parliamentary elections. Earlier in the week, István Földi, a candidate for the Jobbik party in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, stepped down in favor of the Tisza Party candidate. Kopping, prior to her expulsion, had requested her supporters back the Tisza Party candidate in the individual race, while still supporting the DK on the party list, according to Nepszava.
The DK’s swift expulsion of Kopping has further fueled the internal tensions, as highlighted by Bodrozsán’s response. The situation remains unresolved, with no immediate statement from the DK regarding Bodrozsán’s call for her own expulsion or the broader implications of the accusations against the Tisza Party.