HUNGARY: Prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has asked Hungary's parliament to hold a vote of confidence in his leadership and reforms, after he was lambasted by the country's president and his Socialist party was mauled in local elections.
The Fidesz opposition party, which dominated Sunday's poll, pledged to reignite protests against Mr Gyurcsany in Budapest unless he resigns, following his admission that he lied "day and night" about the economy to win re-election in April.
"I am asking for a vote of confidence about the government programme," Mr Gyurcsany said, calling for the vote to be held on Friday. "Besides the government's policies, this vote of confidence is also about the person of the prime minister," he added. "I hear the voice of criticism, and I understand the government's responsibility." Mr Gyurcsany's Socialists and their liberal allies hold 210 seats in the 386-member parliament, and he is expected to win the confidence vote after major figures in the coalition gave him their full support.
Fidesz, however, on the day after it took power in 18 of 19 counties and 15 of 23 cities across Hungary, tried to take the initiative in its struggle with Mr Gyurcsany by threatening to call a huge protest rally in the capital unless he was removed by Thursday.
"The longer he stays prime minister, the more there will be problems," said Fidesz leader Viktor Orban. "That's why we need a government of national unity that is professional and non-partisan." Mr Gyurcsany has rejected calls to resign over a leaked speech in which he admitted lying about the dire state of the economy. He insists he will push through unpopular tax rises and spending cuts aimed at slashing the biggest budget deficit in the European Union.
But he was undermined on Sunday night by President Laszlo Solyom.
"The peaceful protests across the country showed the healthy moral sense of the people. However, the catharsis and purge have not taken place," the president said, accusing Mr Gyurcsany of creating a "moral conflict" that deepened the "tragic division of Hungarian society".
Mr Solyom said reforms could not be implemented by a leader without the people's trust, and spelled out what the government could do to remove him.
"Now the parliament has the opportunity to act. The government reports to the parliament. The parliament decides on the person of the prime minister. The parliament can restore the required social confidence," he said.