At the age of 76, the president of the Somogyért Association, former county president, member of parliament and Kaposvár local government, minister of local government passed away on Thursday evening, the Kaposvár Now from the family.
Before the regime change, István Gyenesei was a member of the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party (MSZMP) between 1975 and 1989, and then ran as an independent candidate in the parliamentary elections in 1990. In 1994, he founded the Somogyért Association, which became a party in the 2006 elections under the name Somogyért Szövetség.
The only candidate was Gyenesei, who eventually won an individual mandate. In 2008, the Prime Minister at the time, Ferenc Gyurcsány, nominated him as Minister of Local Government. He held his post for almost a year. In the 2010 elections, he contested once more representing the Somogyért Alliance, but lost to his rival from Fidesz.
He had been battling cancer for years. In January Blikk reported thatthat the disease has recurred. Nevertheless, his statement exuded optimism. “Considering the circumstances, thank you, I’m fine. I am gathering strength,” he said at the time.
