Gyurcsány stresses refusal to step down after protest

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány stressed that he will not resign at an international press conference on Tuesday afternoon. He said "I am committed to implementing reforms and will continue my campaign to explain that to ordinary people."

Gyurcsány also called on the opposition to take a clear stand against acts of violence and ask people not to support or to take part in civil disturbances. He added that he feels support from the coalition and as long as that continues he is determined to carry out the changes.

He explained: "Never have I been more certain that Hungary should choose this party, one which represents a turning point and reform. This is no revolution, nor is it 1956. This is desecration of our glorious national history." Gyurcsány also pointed out that criticism of the government which is answerable to the democratically-elected Parliament does not provide legal or moral authorisation to break into national institutions.

In response to critical remarks made by President László Sólyom, Gyurcsány said he agrees that all must answer moral questions and in his view the left wing currently provide the right answer.

Socialist caucus leader Ildikó Lendvai said the caucus condemns those who resorted to unlawful methods and expects Fidesz and the Christian Democrats to firmly dissociate themselves from those of their supporters who took part in the disturbances. She also lay the responsibility on those who, for quite some time, "have taken disputes to the streets."

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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