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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pressure mounts on Hungarian PM | Pressure mounts on Hungarian PM |
| (about 6 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. |
| He spoke as the centre-right opposition made sweeping gains in local elections, capturing many cities and councils. | |
| The opposition had said Sunday's vote should be a referendum on the prime minister's leadership. | The opposition had said Sunday's vote should be a referendum on the prime minister's leadership. |
| But as results came in, Mr Gyurcsany refused to resign, vowing to press on with his programme of reforms. | But as results came in, Mr Gyurcsany refused to resign, vowing to press on with his programme of reforms. |
| "We are continuing with our policies, as am I personally," he told a news conference. | "We are continuing with our policies, as am I personally," he told a news conference. |
| 'Confidence' | 'Confidence' |
| Earlier, President Solyom accused the prime minister of undermining confidence in democracy and using improper methods to keep power. | 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. | "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. | 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. |
| High turnout | High turnout |
| In Sunday's election the opposition centre-right party, Fidesz, won 18 out of 19 counties and 19 out of 23 cities - but failed to secure the capital, Budapest. | In Sunday's election the opposition centre-right party, Fidesz, won 18 out of 19 counties and 19 out of 23 cities - but failed to secure the capital, Budapest. |
| The National Election Office said turnout was 53% - Hungary's highest for local elections since the former Communist country returned to democracy in 1990. | The National Election Office said turnout was 53% - Hungary's highest for local elections since the former Communist country returned to democracy in 1990. |
| Fidesz has said the government should resign if it does badly in the polls. | Fidesz has said 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. |
| After polls closed, some opposition supporters headed for central Budapest, where the latest demonstration against the prime minister was held in front of the Hungarian parliament. | After polls closed, some opposition supporters headed for central Budapest, where the latest demonstration against the prime minister was 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. | More than eight million people were entitled to vote in the municipal elections and were choosing mayors and councillors at local and district level. |