HUNGARY’S PRESIDENT backed early elections yesterday as the best way to break political deadlock following the resignation of Socialist prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
The head of state spoke as former central bank governor Gyorgy Suranyi emerged as the favourite to replace Mr Gyurcsany, if the Socialists’ efforts to avert early polls succeed.
“The situation is such that only early parliamentary elections can provide a chance to establish a stable government with broad support,” President Laszlo Solyom told national television. “Only such a government will have sufficient backing to implement a long-term programme spanning several years to lead the country out of the crisis.”
His comments bolstered calls from the main opposition Fidesz party for snap polls, which it would almost certainly win. Recent surveys give centre-right Fidesz a lead of some 40 per cent over the Socialists.
Fidesz said earlier this week that it would not support any new government that was appointed without elections, while Mr Suranyi has said he would not serve as premier without the backing of all parties.
Mr Suranyi (55) has a strong international reputation as a banker capable of fighting financial crises, having orchestrated huge cuts to Hungary’s budget deficit in the mid-1990s, saving it from debt default. In 2001, however, he ended his second term as central banker at loggerheads with the Fidesz government of Viktor Orban, who is still the party’s leader.
Hungary has borrowed €20 billion from the International Monetary Fund to bolster its finances as it struggles to pay debts and cover its yawning budget deficit. Mr Gyurcsany failed to win support for spending cuts, prompting his resignation on Saturday.
The opposition Free Democrat party, whose votes are vital to elect a new prime minister, said yesterday that Mr Suranyi was an acceptable candidate.