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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Hungary PM calls confidence vote | Hungary PM calls confidence vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has called a vote of confidence following punishing defeats in regional elections. | Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has called a vote of confidence following punishing defeats in regional elections. |
| Mr Gyurcsany has been under heavy pressure since admitting that he lied in the run-up to April's general election, but says he will not resign. | Mr Gyurcsany has been under heavy pressure since admitting that he lied in the run-up to April's general election, but says he will not resign. |
| In local elections on Sunday the opposition capitalised, winning in a record number of Hungarian cities. | In local elections on Sunday the opposition capitalised, winning in a record number of Hungarian cities. |
| But Mr Gyurcsany's coalition allies have said he still has their support. | But Mr Gyurcsany's coalition allies have said he still has their support. |
| The prime minister was confident of winning the vote - which may take place on Friday - and staying in office, an unnamed source close to him was quoted by Reuters as saying. | The prime minister was confident of winning the vote - which may take place on Friday - and staying in office, an unnamed source close to him was quoted by Reuters as saying. |
| His left-wing coalition holds 210 of the 386 seats in parliament. | His left-wing coalition holds 210 of the 386 seats in parliament. |
| "We are continuing with our policies, as am I personally," Mr Gyurcsany said after the scale of his party's defeat on Sunday became clear. | "We are continuing with our policies, as am I personally," Mr Gyurcsany said after the scale of his party's defeat on Sunday became clear. |
| 'Voters have spoken' | 'Voters have spoken' |
| Preliminary results from Sunday's vote suggested the opposition centre-right party, Fidesz, won 18 out of 19 counties and at least 15 out of 23 cities - but failed to secure the capital, Budapest. | Preliminary results from Sunday's vote suggested the opposition centre-right party, Fidesz, won 18 out of 19 counties and at least 15 out of 23 cities - but failed to secure the capital, Budapest. |
| Final results are expected later on Monday. | Final results are expected later on Monday. |
| 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. |
| Protesters have maintained their demonstrations in Budapest | Protesters have maintained their demonstrations in Budapest |
| Fidesz leader Viktor Orban said the public's intention was clear. | Fidesz leader Viktor Orban said the public's intention was clear. |
| "Hungarian voters tonight have replaced the prime minister in office," he said after first results emerged on Sunday night. | "Hungarian voters tonight have replaced the prime minister in office," he said after first results emerged on Sunday night. |
| "We call on the Socialist Party to refrain from going against the will of the people and to carry out the voters' decision." | "We call on the Socialist Party to refrain from going against the will of the people and to carry out the voters' decision." |
| Fidesz warned it would organise a mass protest if Mr Gyurcsany was not out by Thursday afternoon. | |
| President Laszlo Solyom also urged the governing coalition to pick a new leader. | President Laszlo Solyom also urged the governing coalition to pick a new leader. |
| "The parliament can restore society's confidence [in government]. The parliamentary majority holds the key to the solution," he said. | "The parliament can restore society's confidence [in government]. The parliamentary majority holds the key to the solution," he said. |
| He also accused the prime minister of undermining confidence in democracy and refusing "to admit that he used inadmissible means to keep power". | He also accused the prime minister of undermining confidence in democracy and refusing "to admit that he used inadmissible means to keep power". |
| Drastic reform | Drastic reform |
| But Mr Gyurcsany resisted the pressure and said he would push ahead with tough economic reforms. | But Mr Gyurcsany resisted the pressure and said he would push ahead with tough economic reforms. |
| Drastic changes to health care, state administration, higher education and energy prices have been announced by the government since its re-election in April. | Drastic changes to health care, state administration, higher education and energy prices have been announced by the government since its re-election in April. |
| But the government was shaken by a leaked tape in which Mr Gyurcsany was heard saying that the government deliberately misled the public about the state of the economy to help it gain re-election. | But the government was shaken by a leaked tape in which Mr Gyurcsany was heard saying that the government deliberately misled the public about the state of the economy to help it gain re-election. |
| 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. |