Győr mayor leaves Fidesz but remains in office

I am leaving Fidesz so that the events connected to my person do not result in moral disadvantage to the party,

Borkai, a former Olympic champion gymnast who won the local election on Sunday despite a recently leaked sex tape, told the press.

Borkai will continue in his office as an independent mayor for the next five years, citing the will of voters in Győr as his legitimisation. His departure will also leave the chair of the local Fidesz chapter vacant.

Borkai won 44.33% of votes in Sunday's municipal elections, narrowly beating out joint opposition candidate Tímea Glázár. The opposition has since demanded a recount, as the number of invalid votes was higher than the difference between the two candidates.

According to press reports, Borkai was called to a meeting in Budapest on Monday with László Kövér, chair of the Fidesz national assembly, and vice chairman Gábor Kubatov, as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was abroad and unavailable.

Cover photo: MTI/ Csaba Krizsán