Gyurcsány calls for parliamentary vote of confidence

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány will seek a vote of confidence from Parliament in himself and the government's programme, he announced yesterday. He has asked the House committee to convene a special session of Parliament for Friday.

In an apparent allusion to President László Sólyom's Sunday comments that there is a crisis in Hungary and only Parliament has the power to oust a prime minister, Gyurcsány said "I hear the voice of those who believe it is necessary for the parliamentary majority to confirm its confidence in the government and its programme," adding "I believe it is necessary that this political confidence become an authorisation."

Gyurcsány told a press briefing that the campaign and the elections are over, the nation must be governed, decisions must be made, and politics must be returned from the street to within the walls of Parliament.

Gyurcsány admitted that the "largest opposition party" had won the local elections and he congratulated Fidesz. Voters had expressed criticism of government policy, and the recent period has produced constructive disputes, he remarked, but said he must now focus on the future. The leaders of the coalition parties have assured him of their support, he said.

Gyurcsány said restoring the budget balance is unavoidable, that he believes in implementing reforms without delay, and that there is a great one-off chance for reforms, and he intends to push through those reforms.

In an interview with Népszabadság a few hours later, Gyurcsány said the cabinet will not bow to pressure from the street. Efforts to blackmail the parliamentary majority are not compatible with democracy, he continued, adding that he refuses to hand over the government to an opposition which, he said, continuously transgresses the frameworks of parliamentary democracy or at least attempts to from time to time.

He said his decision to seek a vote of confidence in Parliament was influenced by the fact that some Socialist mayors were unseated who deserved to win based on their performance.

The above story is just one of more than two dozen published today by Hungary Around the Clock, the most comprehensive source of daily English-language news about Hungary. For a free trial of HATC, click here. Hungarian news sources include Népszabadság; Magyar Hírlap; Világgazdaság; Napi Gazdaság; Magyar Nemzet; Népszava; Kossuth Rádió news and Hungarian television's nightly news broadcast.

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