Hungary

Hungary has candidate for premier after crucial nod from opposition

Hungary has candidate for premier after crucial nod from opposition Budapest  - Economy Minister Gordon Bajnai was on course to become Hungary's prime minister on Monday morning when leaders the opposition Free Democrats voted shortly after midnight to back his nomination.

Bajnai was endorsed by the governing Socialist Party on Sunday evening after a lengthy day of debate.

On Sunday evening he held talks until close to midnight with the Free Democrats, whose support the Socialists need.

ROUNDUP: Prime Minister Gyurcsany quits as Socialist Party leader

Prime Minister Gyurcsany quits as Socialist Party leaderBudapest - Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany quit as head of the Hungarian Socialist Party on Saturday, after nominating Minister for Economy and Development Gordon Bajnai to lead an interim government.

Speculation has been rife over who will be Hungary's new prime minister since Gyurcsany said at his party's congress on March 21 that he would step aside to make way for a new government with a new leader.

Former Hungarian finance minister says no to prime minister's job

Former Hungarian finance minister says no to prime minister's job Budapest - Former Hungarian finance minister Lajos Bokros said Saturday that he was not prepared to accept the job of Hungarian prime minister.

"I am insulted by the notion that I would lend my reputation and credibility to a programme in whose success I have no faith," Bokros said

The economics professor was speaking at the opening of the European Parliament election campaign of the Hungarian Democratic Forum, a minor conservative opposition party for which he is standing.

ROUNDUP: Socialist party divided over Lajos Bokros for premier

Socialist party divided over Lajos Bokros for premier Budapest - Hungary's Socialist Party was divided in two on Friday evening over the nomination of Finance Minister Lajos Bokros for prime minister, the state news agency MTI reported.

Bokros is backed by one faction of the party while the other prefers Electrolux Hungary boss Janos Takacs, nominated by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany in the morning.

The liberal Free Democrats, whose support the minority Socialist government needs, said Bokros was the only candidate acceptable to them.

1ST LEAD: Fraught negotiations over new Hungarian prime minister

Fraught negotiations over new Hungarian prime ministerBudapest - Hungary's Socialist Party leadership met Friday to discuss the possibility of backing former finance minister Lajos Bokros as the leader of an interim government.

The meeting was called after the liberal Free Democrat party rejected Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's nomination of Electrolux Hungary boss Janos Takacs as his replacement, the daily newspaper Nepszabadsag reported.

New nominee in Hungary's search for replacement prime minister

New nominee in Hungary's search for replacement prime minister Budapest - Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has nominated Janos Takacs, the CEO of Electolux Hungary, as a his replacement, the news agency MTI reported on Friday.

Takacs, a former financial director of IBM Hungary, would neither confirm or deny whether he had been asked to consider the position.

"It would be a greater honour and I would at least consider it," Takacs told the Hungarian state news agency MTI.

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