This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/5396334.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Hungary leader slams PM over lies Hungary leader slams PM over lies
(about 3 hours later)
Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom has strongly criticised PM Ferenc Gyurcsany over his taped admission that he lied about the economy to win re-election.Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom has strongly criticised PM Ferenc Gyurcsany over his taped admission that he lied about the economy to win re-election.
Mr Solyom's speech coincided with the close of polls in local elections that the opposition had said should be a referendum on the PM's leadership. Mr Solyom spoke as partial results from local elections pointed to substantial gains for the opposition Fidesz party.
The ruling Socialists, responding to the president's comments, said they had "full confidence" in Mr Gyurcsany. The opposition had said Sunday's vote for county and city governments should be a referendum on the PM's leadership.
They are trying to hold key provincial cities as well as the capital Budapest. But as results came in, Mr Gyurcsany refused to resign, vowing to press on with his programme of reforms.
In a surprise intervention moments after the polls closed, the president accused Mr Gyurcsany of undermining confidence in democracy and using improper methods to keep power. "We are continuing with our policies, as am I personally," he told a news conference.
"The prime minister refuses to admit that he used inadmissible means to keep power... This undermines confidence in democracy," Mr Solyom said in a nationally broadcast speech. 'Confidence'
"The parliament decides who is the prime minister. The parliament can restore society's confidence [in government]. The parliamentary majority holds the key to the solution," he said. Earlier, President Solyom accused the prime minister of undermining confidence in democracy and using improper methods to keep power.
"The prime minister refuses to admit that he used inadmissible means to keep power," Mr Solyom said.
Protesters have been calling for Mr Gyurcsany's resignation"The parliament decides who is the prime minister. The parliament can restore society's confidence [in government]. The parliamentary majority holds the key to the solution," he said.
Some analysts have interpreted the president's words as being tantamount to calling on Socialist and liberal deputies to oust their own prime minister.Some analysts have interpreted the president's words as being tantamount to calling on Socialist and liberal deputies to oust their own prime minister.
The past two weeks have seen daily protests calling for the prime minister to step down.The past two weeks have seen daily protests calling for the prime minister to step down.
The government was shaken by a leaked tape in which Mr Gyurcsany is heard saying that the government deliberately misled the public about the state of the economy to help it gain re-election in April.The government was shaken by a leaked tape in which Mr Gyurcsany is heard saying that the government deliberately misled the public about the state of the economy to help it gain re-election in April.
'Committed reformer' High turnout
Perfect autumn weather encouraged a relatively high turnout in Sunday's local polls, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest. Early results from Hungary's local elections indicate the Fidesz opposition has made big gains in many cities - but has failed to win the capital, Budapest.
By the time all the votes are counted, they are expected to top the 51% who voted in the local elections four years ago, our correspondent adds. The National Election Office said turnout was 53% - Hungary's highest for local elections since the former Communist country returned to democracy in 1990.
Protesters have been calling for Mr Gyurcsany's resignationThen, the Socialists won a decisive victory in much of the country, but this time they and their liberal allies appear to be facing a tough battle with the main conservative opposition party, Fidesz. Fidesz says the government should resign if it does badly in the polls.
It says the government should resign if it does badly in the polls.
The government says that as a local vote, the result will not affect its leadership of the country.The government says that as a local vote, the result will not affect its leadership of the country.
As polls closed, some opposition supporters headed for Kossuth Square in Budapest, where the latest demonstration against the prime minister was being held in front of the Hungarian parliament. As polls closed, some opposition supporters headed for central Budapest, where the latest demonstration against the prime minister was being held in front of the Hungarian parliament.
Drastic reforms of health care, state administration, higher education and energy prices have been announced by the government since its re-election.Drastic reforms of health care, state administration, higher education and energy prices have been announced by the government since its re-election.
More than eight million people were entitled to vote in the municipal elections and were choosing mayors and councillors at local and district level across Hungary. More than eight million people were entitled to vote in the municipal elections and were choosing mayors and councillors at local and district level.