Hungary's Socialists decide to back PM in confidence vote

Hungary's Socialist Party (MSZP) on Tuesday unanimously decided to support Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany in a vote of confidence to be held in parliament on Friday.

Ildiko Lendvai, leader of the Socialist parliamentary group, told a news conference that all members expressed their support for Gyurcsany and the government's economic policy.

Gyurcsany asked for the confidence vote in his leadership and his program of austerity measures and reforms, after the governing coalition parties suffered large setbacks in nationwide municipal elections on Sunday.

The main opposition party Fidesz and its election ally Christian Democrat (KDNP) announced on Tuesday that they would not participate in Friday's confidence vote and called for a protest outside parliament unless the Socialists dismissed the prime minister within 72 hours.

Fidesz's leader Tibor Navracsics called the vote of confidence a "ludicrous comedy" as both the socialists and their coalition partners, the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), had earlier voiced full support for the prime minister.

He added that the socialist representatives of the lower house would even hold a "trial vote" on Tuesday.

KDNP's leader Zsolt Semjen accused the governing parties of violating the house's rules. "By insisting on an open vote of confidence, they seem to be exerting pressure on the deputies...Gyurcsany fails to be brave enough to face a secret ballot," he said.

Source: Xinhua