Hungary's new justice minister rejects police crisis talk

Incoming Justice and Law Enforcement Minister Albert Takács "does not share the view that a general crisis prevails in the police," he told Parliament's constitutional, national defence and law enforcement committees at his hearing yesterday.

As to whether he can be influenced politically, Takács said he will say no to any such requests, adding that he would shield the police force from any political pressure.

Takács said police crime can be prevented by strengthening the police hierarchy. He does not deem passage of a new constitution necessary, but is in favour of merging the police and the border guards.

Coalition party MPs on the committees voted to support his appointment, effective June 1. Fidesz deputy caucus leader Róbert Répássy said his party does not believe that Takács will be able to say no to Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány. Fidesz maintains that Gyurcsány gave direct instructions to the police during last autumn's riots.

Fidesz earlier objected that Takács in his capacity as deputy civil rights ombudsman only touched upon police excesses in his report on events of last October 23.

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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