HUNGARY: Hungarian Prime Minister says he will not resign as protests continue in Budapest

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany rejected opposition calls to quit on Tuesday (September 19) after anti-government riots he called the country's "longest and darkest night" since the end of communism. The riots, in which over 150 people were hurt, followed the leak of a tape on Sunday in which Gyurcsany said he and his Socialist party had lied for four years about Hungary's budget in order to win a general election in April. "I also consider the opinion that those approximately 300 people protesting outside parliament now want me to step down. Their opinion is very important to me. But all in all, looking at all the circumstances and facts, I can tell you that I do not want to step down," Gyurcsany said at a news conference. Thousands of people took to the streets of Budapest late on Monday, occupying and setting fire to the state television building and fighting with riot police in the first such violence since communism collapsed at the end of the 1980s. Higher taxes and fees for healthcare and university tuition had prompted protests before the release of the tape sparked a violent backlash that weakened the Hungarian forint and other currencies across central Europe. "This is not a revolution, this is not 1956, this is the betrayal of our our great national history," Gyurcsany said, referring to the Hungarian uprising against Soviet occupation 50 years ago. Some 500 protesters gathered at parliament during the day on Tuesday and more were expected in the evening. There are also plans for a big student demonstration on Thursday, seen attracting 10,000 people, which the organisers fear could be hijacked by the opposition. The soaring budget deficit has forced European Union member Hungary to abandon plans to join the euro single currency in 2010, with analysts now saying 2014 was more realistic. Five parliamentary parties passed a resolution condemning the violence. However, political analysts said the involvement of extra-parliamentary far right parties Jobbik and MIEP in the riots might diminish the value of the resolution. A defiant Gyurcsany, facing the biggest challenge in his two-year premiership, told Reuters that resigning was out of the question and he would continue with the tough reforms. The protests came two weeks ahead of local elections on October 1 and follow a slump in the ruling Socialist Party's popularity to 25 percent in polls from 40 percent at the election. The main Fidesz opposition urged the prime minister to go amid what it called a "moral crisis". The prime minister has said his taped comments to party members were intended to force them to admit to their mistakes and back much needed reform measures. Analysts said Gyurcsany was likely to hang on for now, but said the uproar could ultimately cost him his job. He won April's election partly on a promise of tax cuts but has since imposed tax hikes and benefit cuts worth $4.6 billion in 2007 alone to curb Hungary's budget deficit which will surge to 10.1 percent of gross domestic product this year. The protesters gathered outside parliament said the latest scandal was the last straw. "The one who betrays his people is a criminal. This is not the first time for the Prime Minister and because of that we are demanding his irrevocable resignation," said local worker Herman Ishtvan.

ITN Source | September 21, 2006

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