Hungary's liberal party denies plans to quit coalition

The Free Democrats, Hungary's junior coalition party, were considering quitting the coalition unless reforms were accelerated, media reports suggested at the weekend. Speaking to Magyar Hírlap, coalition affairs state secretary Gábor Horn denied allegations from MTV that a one-month ultimatum was made to the Socialists. Nevertheless the daily claims that several sources say the Free Democrats seriously considered leaving the coalition.

Horn denied that the Free Democrats told the Socialists that they would break their alliance if they could not agree on health care issues, electricity privatisation, the property tax and the continuation of education reforms. Népszabadság quotes Horn as saying "it makes no sense to remain in the coalition if we cannot see eye-to-eye with our partner."

A Free Democrats caucus meeting established on Friday that the reforms have slowed, and there are few issues without irreconcilable conflicts between the two coalition parties. Horn stressed that he has received authorisation to devise solutions to the problems, but that he was not authorised to take his party out of the coalition.

Horn conceded that "one deadline exists: that the two parties should agree on the health insurance system reforms by June 25." If no agreement is reached by the end of the spring session of Parliament, "relevant regulations cannot be passed by Parliament in the autumn and a new health insurance system could not be introduced next year."

The Free Democrats have raised the possibility of supporting the governing Socialists from outside, Népszabadság comments. Meanwhile the Democratic Forum said they would not enter into a coalition with the Socialists, but might be ready to support the Gyurcsány government while remaining in opposition if the Free Democrats quit the alliance. Coalition talks will enter a more intensive stage this week, Népszabadság says.

Sources told Magyar Nemzet on Sunday that the Free Democrat leadership will convene again in early July to decide on the future of the coalition.

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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