Without consulting the party's only MEP, Péter Olajos, who had been considered favourite to head the list, the MDF leadership decided to nominate former finance minister Lajos Bokros instead, a member of the Socialist cabinet in the 1990s.
"The controversies and the internal struggles for power which shadowed the life of the MDF have now entered a stage where they can lead to irreversible changes," Olajos said, objecting to the fact that the decision was taken while he was at an ACP-EU meeting in Guyana.
Bokros was finance minister in the Socialist government of Prime Minister Gyula Horn, considered a tough politician with deep roots in the Communist era.
Olajos made clear that he respects Bokros "because of his preparedness and consistent behaviour". Nevertheless, Olajos does not support the former minister's nomination, believing that he fails to encompass the spirit of József Antall, Hungary's first democratically-elected prime minister and leader of the Hungarian Democratic Forum between 1989 and 1993.
In 1995, Bokros became famous, but very unpopular, when he passed the so-called 'Bokros package', which restored financial and economic stability to Hungary. Bokros is now director of financial advisory services for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank, and lectures at the Central European University in Budapest.
MDF to split up?
Olajos's views suggest that the party's internal squabbling, which broke out in the wake of a spy scandal a few months ago, is showing no sign of abating. Instead, internal conflict is becoming increasingly apparent. Olajos believes the party's nomination of a former Socialist minister questions "the basic principles of MDF's identity".
He is thus calling on every MDF member who still respects Antall's legacy to express their objections.
"I invite the MDF members who still honour the spirit of József Antall's heritage to speak their mind about the chairman's proposal in every available forum, in a way that is appropriate for a normal party in a normal country," Olajos said.
Ruling party nominates foreign minister for EP
While the MDF tries to ease internal unrest, the ruling Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) reportedly announced that its list will be headed by Foreign Minister Kinga Göncz. Gyula Cserey, the foreign affairs secretary, and Mihány Kökény, who heads the Parliament's health committee, are also on the Socialist list.
However, rumours that László Kovács, the EU's taxation and customs commissioner, will run in the European elections have been denied.
