In a move signaling a significant political shift, the leadership of Szombathely, including the mayor, has exited their respective political parties to form a new association.
The leadership of Szombathely, including the previously Socialist Party-affiliated Mayor András Nemény, has collectively announced their departure from their respective political parties to continue their work under the new banner of the Éljen Szombathely Association.
A letter sent by the local Momentum party to its members confirmed this significant political decision, stating, "As of today, the members of the city leadership are leaving their parties to represent the residents of Szombathely solely under the Éljen Szombathely colors."
The letter emphasized that the reasons for this exit were not due to a change in ideology or personal issues.
The city leadership assured that they would continue collaborating with Győző on city matters as needed.
The Éljen Szombathely Association's statement reiterated this commitment, noting, "The leaders of Szombathely have made a unified decision to leave our previous parties, and we will continue our public activities within the framework of Éljen Szombathely! Our leadership remains devoted to the continuous development of Szombathely and the representation of its residents' interests.
We will continue making our decisions based on these principles."
The declaration was signed by Mayor András Nemény (MSZP), Deputy Mayor Attila Horváth (DK), Deputy Mayor Soma Horváth (MSZP), Deputy Mayor Győző László (Momentum), and Councilor Adrienn Bokányi (MSZP).
Notably, Councilor Ákos Németh had previously left the LMP party.
Additionally, Councilor Viktor Szuhai, a member of the Democratic Coalition, did not sign the announcement.
In a related concern, Tamás Sulyok, the President of Hungary, expressed alarm about the increasing aggressive tone in political discourse ahead of next year's parliamentary elections.
In a social media post, Sulyok highlighted the challenges posed by social media platforms, asserting that they have created a dialogue-stifling echo chamber.
He emphasized the importance of respecting differing opinions within a shared country and the role of political leaders in fostering a respectful dialogue.
Sulyok pointed out the critical responsibilities of those in public authority and leadership positions, warning that lack of respect for opponents could escalate tensions and aggression among their supporters.
He underscored the significant risk that irresponsible discourse poses to societal stability, urging a reflection on the moral boundaries of political communication.
In other news, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán recounted a car accident from 33 years ago during a campaign trip.
In a recent
Facebook video, he described how he totaled a party vehicle while driving on an icy road, nearly causing a tragic incident but eventually returning to work early the next morning.
Additionally, László Palkovics, a recent returnee to the government as an AI affairs commissioner, outlined ambitious goals for artificial intelligence development in Hungary, aiming for a 15% higher economic growth by 2030 through AI investment.
He shared plans for supporting the establishment of 200 AI-based startups and enhancing foreign investment incentives for companies adopting AI technologies.
Palkovics noted ongoing projects, including a workforce initiative in Zalaegerszeg aimed at addressing labor shortages and integrating underemployed individuals into the job market using AI solutions.
Furthermore, he announced developments in supercomputing capabilities, with plans to upgrade Hungary's research supercomputer capacity from 5 to 20 petaflops through joint financing from the EU and the Hungarian government.