Gergely Karacsony, the mayor of Budapest, has taken an unprecedented step by submitting a request to the Supreme Court (Curia) to invalidate the local election results and call for new elections across the entire capital. Karacsony narrowly won the recent local elections by a slim margin of 41 votes over his opponent, David Vitezy, who was supported by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party through the Hungarian Green Party (LMP).
Karacsony, who has been in office since 2019 with the support of an opposition alliance, cited irregularities in electoral procedures across various polling stations as the basis for his request. Despite winning the initial count by 324 votes, subsequent recounts narrowed his victory to a mere 41 votes after a meticulous examination of invalidated ballots.
In a Facebook post, Karacsony acknowledged the unusual nature of a politician requesting a repeat election that he had technically won, underscoring his commitment to electoral integrity and fairness. His decision comes amid mounting tensions and scrutiny over the handling of the election process, with allegations of procedural errors and irregularities playing a significant role.
David Vitezy, a former Secretary of State for Transport and a key figure in Budapest’s municipal administration, initially led in the vote count before Karacsony edged ahead in the final tally. The close margin and the subsequent contentious recount have fueled calls for transparency and accountability in Hungary’s electoral system, highlighting broader political divisions and rivalries within Budapest’s local governance.
The outcome of Karacsony’s appeal to the Supreme Court will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for electoral disputes and the enforcement of democratic norms in Hungary’s local elections.