The 2024 Budapest mayoral election will be held on 9 June 2024[1] to elect the mayor of Budapest (főpolgármester). However, the elected mayor will only take office in October. On the same day, local elections will also be held throughout Hungary, including the districts of Budapest which will determine the composition of the General Assembly. The election is run using a first-past-the-post voting system. The winner of the election will serve for a term of five years.
Koloman Brenner, member of parliament (2018–), supported by Jobbik; withdrew on 19 April 2024, in favor of Dávid Vitézy.[6][7]
Alexandra Szentkirályi, government spokesperson (2020–2024), former deputy mayor of Budapest (2014–2019), supported by Fidesz-KDNP; withdrew on 7 June 2024, in favor of Dávid Vitézy.[8]
A campaign poster of Alexandra Szentkirályi photographed in Budapest's 3rd district.Dávid Vitézy and Gergely Karácsony campaign posters for the 2024 Budapest mayoral elections.
On 14 March 2024, it was announced that Alexandra Szentkirályi, the party's spokesperson and former deputy mayor, will be the candidate of Fidesz for Mayor of Budapest in the 2014 election.[9] During her activity, Szentkirályi ran an exclusively defamatory campaign against Karácsony, frequently called him as the "puppet" of former prime minister and opposition leader Ferenc Gyurcsány. Under the slogan "Budapest needs change", she tried to prove Karácsony's incompetence in numerous TikTok videos, but she did not publish her own program or vision. Fidesz leaders, including PM Viktor Orbán remained remarkably passive during her campaign, according to analysts, Fidesz priced the defeat in advance. Szentkirályi refused to attend debates against Karácsony and Vitézy, and, with the exception of pro-government media, she did not give any interviews to the media.[10] Karácsony considered Fidesz "official" candidate Szentkirályi will withdraw in favor of Vitézy sometime during the campaign. Both Vitézy and Szentkirályi refused the allegations throughout the campaign.[11] However, Szentkirályi withdrew her candidacy on 7 June, two days before the election and endorsed Vitézy. Pro-government media unanimously encouraged the election of Vitézy, but the support of the Fidesz–KDNP list in the simultaneous General Assembly election.[12]
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