attila mesterhazy

March 11, 2010, 09:39 CET

President Sólyom signs Holocaust denial bill

President Laszlo Solyom on Wednesday signed a recent law on penalising Holocaust denial, a senior official of the president's office, told MTI. Solyom signed the law since it does not contravene the Constitution, said Ferenc Kumin. At the same time,... [read complete entry]

March 10, 2010, 09:46 CET

Ruling Socialists cancel policy debates

The ruling Socialists have decided to cancel the policy debates planned between senior ministry officials and experts of the main opposition Fidesz party, the party spokeswoman told MTI on Wednesday. At the first of the three debates the Socialists initiated... [read complete entry]

March 09, 2010, 02:17 CET

Jobbik derails Fidesz's "anti-campaign" election train

Jobbik has derailed Fidesz’s electoral strategy of coasting toward victory this April while barely lifting a finger. Although so far the salvos from Fidesz have come from the more peripheral figures, it is increasingly apparent that in this election campaign,... [read complete entry]

March 08, 2010, 10:32 CET

Fidesz rejects Socialist invitation to broadcast debate

Conservative party Fidesz on Sunday rejected a call by the Socialist party's prime-minister candidate to take part in a broadcast debate on their respective campaign programmes. Attila Mesterhazy had asked Viktor Orban, the Fidesz leader, and the party's top policymakers... [read complete entry]

March 05, 2010, 10:14 CET

Ruling Socialists initiate debate with opposition next week

Ministers of the ruling Socialists invite experts of the main opposition Fidesz party for three policy debates next week, the Socialist prime minister candidate confirmed MTI's information on Thursday. The first debate on next Tuesday would be held on social... [read complete entry]

March 03, 2010, 09:33 CET

Parties to hold campaign rallies in Budapest on March 15 national holiday

All major parties in Hungary will hold a campaign rally on the afternoon of the national holiday of March 15 in the centre of Budapest, the organisers told MTI on Tuesday. March 15 marks the commemoration of Hungary's 1848 anti-Habsburg... [read complete entry]

March 02, 2010, 10:04 CET

Socialists not to support Fidesz against Jobbik in 2nd round

The Socialist party's candidates will not step down in favour of main opposition Fidesz in the second round of elections, Socialist prime minister candidate Attila Mesterhazy said on Monday. Addressing a local residents' forum, Mesterhazy was responding to a question... [read complete entry]

March 01, 2010, 10:37 CET

Socialist PM candidate starts rally around Hungary

Prime minister candidate of the ruling Socialist Party Attila Mesterhazy started a tour of the country in Polgar (E) on Saturday. The candidate met supporters in the local community centre and said that the next elections would determine Hungary's dominant... [read complete entry]

February 23, 2010, 10:10 CET

Forsense projects three-party parliament after elections

Hungarians' inclination to go to the polls at the parliamentary elections this spring is on the increase and three parties will certainly get into parliament, pollster Forsense told MTI on Monday. The number of voters who have a party preference... [read complete entry]

February 23, 2010, 10:08 CET

PM urges Socialists, Fidesz to jointly combat extremism

Hungary's Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai on Monday urged cooperation against extremism between the ruling Socialists and main opposition Fidesz Addressing parliament's last pre-election session, Bajnai said Fidesz leader Viktor Orban and the Socialist PM-candidate Attila Mesterhazy had one thing in... [read complete entry]

February 23, 2010, 09:54 CET

Hungarian MPs criminalize Holocaust denial

The denial of the Holocaust will be punishable by law under a bill passed by Parliament on Monday afternoon. Those who publicly deny the Holocaust, call it into doubt or present it as insignificant may be sentenced to up to... [read complete entry]

February 22, 2010, 10:17 CET

Socialist PM candidate addresses uncertain voters, say analysts

Prime Minister candidate of the governing Socialist party Attila Mesterhazy addressed uncertain and disillusioned voters in a speech outlining the party's election programme, said analysts polled by MTI on Sunday. The speech addressed opponents within the party as well as... [read complete entry]

February 22, 2010, 10:14 CET

Socialist PM candidate opens campaign promising to renew nation

The Socialist party opened its election campaign on Saturday with its prime-minister candidate promising to modernise the nation and at the same time providing a political home for voters disillusioned by neo-liberalist economic dogma but who feel close to left-wing... [read complete entry]

February 19, 2010, 10:15 CET

Main opposition retains significant lead in 1st month of election campaign

The main opposition Fidesz party has retained its significant lead over its political rivals in February, the first month of the campaign for the general elections in April, according to a poll Szazadveg released to MTI on Thursday. Support for... [read complete entry]

February 18, 2010, 10:11 CET

Socialist PM-candidate challenges Orbán for a public debate

Attila Mesterhazy, the Socialist party's prime-minister candidate, has challenged Fidesz leader Viktor Orban to a public debate. In a video-message on Wednesday, Mesterhazy proposed health, education, economic policy and national defence as topics for the bout, which he said should... [read complete entry]

February 18, 2010, 09:54 CET

More details of Socialist platform revealed

A revised tax regime, motorway development and Roma integration are among the ideas in a 60-page policy platform to be presented by prime ministerial candidate Attila Mesterházy at the Socialists opening campaign rally on Saturday. The document speaks of further... [read complete entry]

February 17, 2010, 10:29 CET

Socialist PM candidate Mesterházy to outline manifesto

Attila Mesterhazy, the Socialist party's prime-minister candidate, will talk through the main points of his political programme at the weekend. Sources close to the party told MTI that highlighted policies will include lengthening the moratorium on the purchase of farmland... [read complete entry]

February 17, 2010, 10:26 CET

Analysts sure of Fidesz victory at elections

Political analysts said on Tuesday that they were are certain the opposition Fidesz party would be power after the April elections but its ability to govern effectively would much depend on whether it manages to secure a two-thirds majority. Addressing... [read complete entry]

February 11, 2010, 09:55 CET

Many undecided voters are Socialist supporters, Mesterházy says

Many of the 40% of the electorate who are still unsure about their party preference are Socialist voters, Socialist Party prime ministerial candidate Attila Mesterházy told a 150-strong local campaign forum in Szigetszentmiklós, Pest county on Wednesday evening. Mesterházy claimed... [read complete entry]

February 08, 2010, 10:18 CET

Parties slam Orbán's speech for ambiguousness

"A lot of talk and hardly any specifics," Socialist Party prime ministerial candidate Attila Mesterházy said in reaction to Orbán's speech on Friday afternoon. Mesterházy said Orbán urged blindfolded people to follow him into the unknown, adding that "I have... [read complete entry]

February 04, 2010, 10:03 CET

Mesterházy sends online message to Fidesz

Socialist Party prime ministerial candidate Attila Mesterházy has asked Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán to be sincere when he delivers his "state of the nation" address on Friday. Mesterházy said in a message posted on the website YouTube that Orbán should... [read complete entry]

February 03, 2010, 09:37 CET

All MPs hand in assets statements on time

All of Hungary's MPs handed in their assets statement by the 8 p.m. deadline on Monday. Socialist Party chairwoman Ildikó Lendvai has a 104m² flat in downtown Budapest and savings of $1,600. She earns a monthly salary of nearly Ft... [read complete entry]

February 03, 2010, 09:20 CET

Socialists say new US ambassador aims to promote investment in Hungary

The ruling Socialist Party trusts that new ambassador to Hungary of United States will further enhance business ties and promote American investment in the country, Attila Mesterhazy, the party's prime minister candidate said on Tuesday, after talks with Eleni Tsakopoulos... [read complete entry]

February 01, 2010, 10:31 CET

Socialist PM candidate Mesterházy pledges certainty, calm

Socialist prime ministerial candidate Attila Mesterházy promised "certainty and calm" to a forum of nearly 1,000 pensioners at Budapest's Millenáris Park at the weekend. Opening the party campaign rally, Mesterházy said pensioners are not playthings, and need certainty, safety and... [read complete entry]

January 29, 2010, 10:16 CET

Socialists seek cooperation on pensioner ticket

Hungary's ruling Socialists, courting the pensioner vote ahead of the spring elections, are seeking alliance with a powerful pensioner pressure group Tisztelet Tarsasag (Respect Society), national daily Nepszabadsag reported on Friday. The organisation comprises 820 pensioner clubs and has 142,000... [read complete entry]

January 28, 2010, 09:49 CET

Fidesz seen to win two-thirds majority in next parliament

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz and its ally Christian Democrats could win two-thirds of the seats plus nine more in the next parliament, according to an optimal scenario developed in a poll by Nezopont Intezet sent to MTI on Wednesday. Nezopont... [read complete entry]

January 27, 2010, 09:34 CET

Lagest opposition party Fidesz retains huge lead in polls

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz has maintained its huge lead, with 33 percent of all respondents of a recent poll backing the conservative party as against 16 percent for the governing Socialists. Pollster Szazadveg told MTI on Tuesday that Fidesz had... [read complete entry]

January 25, 2010, 09:40 CET

Opposition leader Orbán heads popularity list

None of Hungary's politicians are rated positively by voters in the latest Szonda Ipsos popularity survey published in Monday's Nepszabadsag daily but Viktor Orban, the leader of conservative Fidesz, is the least negatively rated. Most of Orban's 45 points out... [read complete entry]

January 19, 2010, 10:14 CET

Retkes says centrist alliance can hit 10% mark at elections

The alliance of the Free Democrats and the Democratic Forum forms a "democratic centre" which could win 10% of votes in the parliamentary elections, Free Democrat chairman Attila Retkes told Népszabadság on Monday. The party is also holding talks with... [read complete entry]

January 07, 2010, 10:48 CET

MSZP candidate for PM pushes government to extend social spending

Prime Minister candidate of the governing Socialist Party Attila Mesterhazy said on Wednesday that he had requested Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai to extend Hungary's crisis management fund when it expires at the end of January. Bajnai has promised to extend... [read complete entry]

January 05, 2010, 12:28 CET

Socialists said to plan short but intensive campaign

The governing Socialist Party (MSZP) is planning a short but intensive campaign ahead of upcoming general elections, and their central campaign will start in the second half of February, according to daily Népszabadság. Local campaigns at individual election districts can... [read complete entry]

January 04, 2010, 09:16 CET

Socialist candidate for MP calls for end to political bickering

Hungary's politicians should start working together and ditch their pastime of feuding, the ruling Socialist party's prime-minister candidate told commercial television channel RTL Klub on Friday. "We have to stop political feuding and discover the national basics," said Attila Mesterhazy.... [read complete entry]

December 23, 2009, 09:53 CET

Politicians' prestige suffers in 2009, but pecking order remains stable

The prestige of Hungarian politicians generally declined in 2009 but their ranking remained by and large unchanged over the past year, national daily Nepszabadsag said on Wednesday, citing a recent Szonda Ipsos poll. Hungary's relatively most popular politician is President... [read complete entry]

December 23, 2009, 09:45 CET

Median poll shows Fidesz's lead over Socialists narrowing

The main opposition Fidesz's lead over the rival ruling Socialists has narrowed to 40:16 percent by December, a poll by Median released on Tuesday showed. Support for Fidesz fell from 47 percent in July to 43 percent in November and... [read complete entry]

December 18, 2009, 10:01 CET

Socialist PM candidate attacks president over magazine interview

The Socialist party's prime minister candidate Attila Mesterhazy on Thursday criticised President Laszlo Solyom for comments made in an interview in which he said it would have been better for the country had there been early elections after Ferenc Gyurcsany... [read complete entry]

December 17, 2009, 10:00 CET

Poll finds Socialist PM candidate getting backing of just 7% of electorate

The Socialist party's candidate for prime minister got the nod from 7 percent of the electorate in a survey by the Nezopont Institute, compared to 36 percent for opposition Fidesz's Viktor Orban, the conservative think-tank said on Wednesday, citing its... [read complete entry]

December 16, 2009, 10:34 CET

Mesterhházy to take over MSZP election campaign from Lendvai

Attila Mesterhazy, who was elected as the Socialist Party's prime-minister candidate at the weekend, will take over the running of the election committee from party leader Ildiko Lendvai, the Socialists' spokesman told MTI on Tuesday. Mesterhazy, 35, will organise an... [read complete entry]

December 14, 2009, 10:58 CET

Mesterházy says Socialists need to embrace record in office

The governing Socialists must embrace the past eight years, including the mistakes made, but also recognising the achievements, Prime Minister candidate of the party, Attila Mesterhazy told daily Nepszabadsag in an interview published on Monday. Mesterhazy told daily Nepszava, published... [read complete entry]

December 14, 2009, 10:24 CET

Mesterházy officially chosen as Socialists' candidate for PM

The Socialist Party convention elected caucus leader Attila Mesterházy as the party's prime ministerial candidate with a 90% majority, and the party national list with a 70% majority on Saturday. "The Socialist Party is preparing for a frank, intense and... [read complete entry]

December 07, 2009, 08:49 CET

Socialist Party opens election campaign in Budapest

The Socialist Party held its first election-drive event in front of the Gellért Hotel on Szent Gellért tér, Budapest's 11th District yesterday. Prime ministerial candidate Attila Mesterházy, party chairwoman Ildikó Lendvai, Budapest chapter head Sándor Burány, his deputy Zsolt Molnár,... [read complete entry]

December 02, 2009, 09:45 CET

Socialist PM candidate Mesterházy vows to turn party's fortunes around

Socialist party group leader Attila Mesterhazy told MTI in an interview that he was prepared to undertake the responsibility of leading the party into the general election next spring as the party's prime-minister candidate, saying that it was not too... [read complete entry]

December 01, 2009, 05:42 CET

Mesterházy shaves his goatee but grows ten horns

Apparently one of my colleagues wasn't the only one to think that Socialist parliamentary faction leader Attila Mesterházy looked a bit scary with his facial hair. Following the decision to make him the Socialists' prime ministerial candidate for next year,... [read complete entry]

November 30, 2009, 10:55 CET

Socialists elect Mesterházy as prime ministerial candidate

The Socialist Party elected Attila Mesterházy as its prime ministerial candidate for the 2010 election at a closed meeting on Saturday. Chairwoman Ildikó Lendvai presented Mesterházy as “a man for the future, with whom the left can build for the... [read complete entry]

November 26, 2009, 10:06 CET

Survey finds majority supporting Orbán as PM

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party leader Viktor Orban was seen as most voters' choice for prime minister, well ahead of the Socialist party's likely candidate Attila Mesterhazy, by a poll from research firm Nezopont Institute revealed on Wednesday. The poll,... [read complete entry]

November 25, 2009, 09:52 CET

Bajnai welcomes nomination of Mesterházy as Socialist PM candidate

Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai welcomed that the ruling Socialist Party presidium would recommend Attila Mesterhazy as the party's prime minister candidate in the 2010 general elections. The Socialist party's presidium decided on Tuesday to recommend Mesterhazy, the party's deputy... [read complete entry]

November 24, 2009, 02:49 CET

Socialist leadership nominates Mesterházy as PM candidate for next year

Hungary's ruling Socialist party's presidium will recommend Attila Mesterhazy as the party's prime minister candidate in the 2010 general elections, party leader Ildiko Lendvai told the press on Tuesday. Mesterhazy, the party's deputy leader and parliamentary group leader, will be... [read complete entry]

November 23, 2009, 08:54 CET

Socialists to name PM candidate on Tuesday, Mesterházy tipped for post

The ruling Socialist Party will name its candidate for prime minister for the 2010 general elections on Tuesday, deputy chairman Peter Kiss told reporters on Saturday. Asked if the candidate will be parliamentary group leader Attila Mesterhazy, Kiss said, "we... [read complete entry]

November 12, 2009, 09:46 CET

Mesterházy tipped as Socialist candidate for PM

Attila Mesterházy has a good chance of being the Socialist candidate for prime minister in next year's elections, party sources told hirszerzo.hu. His name first cropped up early last summer. Other potential nominees have been discussed but all have faded... [read complete entry]

October 28, 2009, 09:55 CET

Socialists search for "sacrificial lamb" prime ministerial candidate

The Socialist Party is already trying to figure out who to name as its prime ministerial candidate for next year's elections, index.hu reports. Some of the names being tossed around are those of Socialist heavyweights (L-R) József Gráf, Katalin... [read complete entry]

October 16, 2009, 09:50 CET

Gyurcsány, other leading Socialists face questioning in Zuschlag fraud case

A court has ordered the questioning of former prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, Socialist caucus leader Attila Mesterházy, former secret services minister György Szilvásy and three lesser-known politicians as suspects in the Zuschlag fraud case. The Bács county prosecutor has pressed... [read complete entry]

August 25, 2009, 11:23 CET

Socialist party challenges EC position on Sólyom row

The spokesman of the European Commission has not interpreted correctly last week's diplomatic incident between Hungary and Slovakia, the parliamentary group leader of the ruling Socialist party said on Tuesday. Speaking in public TV's morning programme "Napkelte" Attila Mesterhazy responded... [read complete entry]

June 26, 2009, 12:30 CET

Szili says Socialist Party needs "soul searching" before renewal

The Socialist Party's key task at the July 4 party convention will be to confront the policy line it has pursued in the last week and over the past 20 years, Speaker Katalin Szili told the state news agency MTI... [read complete entry]

June 25, 2009, 10:06 CET

Socialists, Jobbik tied in new poll; first dip below 10% for MSZP

Support for the Socialists is 9% among decided voters, the same as for the far-right Jobbik, according to a Nézőpont Institute poll conducted for Heti Válasz. This is the first time that Socialist support has ever polled below 10%, the... [read complete entry]

June 24, 2009, 09:49 CET

Socialist insurgents put pressure on old guard; demand vote on leadership

The young pretenders, in an attempt to oust the old guard of the embattled ruling Socialist Party, are insisting on pursuing a vote of no confidence in the current leadership, having rejected a compromise deal proposed by stalwarts of the... [read complete entry]

June 22, 2009, 11:08 CET

Szeged mayor tipped as potential PM-candidate for Socialists

Laszlo Botka, mayor of Szeged and chief coordinator of the Socialist Party's preparations for the general elections, has the best chance to become the party's prime minister-candidate, daily Magyar Nemzet said on Monday. Parliamentary group leader Attila Mesterhazy may succeed... [read complete entry]

June 18, 2009, 09:35 CET

Leadership vote possible at upcoming Socialist party convention

The question of confidence in the elected party executive could be put on the agenda of the July 4 Socialist Party convention, MTI learned from a party source on Wednesday. "The executive committee should hold a confidence vote at the... [read complete entry]

May 28, 2009, 10:25 CET

Socialists slam Fidesz EP campaign, claim it may be illegal

Fidesz's European Parliament (EP) election campaign does not mention one word about the EU, Socialist caucus leader Attila Mesterházy said in a statement on Wednesday. The National Election Commission (OVB) should examine whether the Fidesz campaign has anything to do... [read complete entry]

May 26, 2009, 09:30 CET

Bajnai defends tax plan in Parliament

Hungary's government will raise taxes on consumption and property to offset approved tax cuts on labour in 2009 and 2010, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said addressing parliament on Monday. The new property tax, to be levied from 2010 on real... [read complete entry]

April 21, 2009, 08:52 CET

MSZP chooses Mesterházy as parliamentary group leader

Hungary's governing Socialist party has elected Attila Mesterhazy as the party's parliamentary group leader, the Socialists' outgoing group leader said on Monday.... [read complete entry]

April 03, 2009, 10:48 CET

Socialists poised to nominate Bajnai as PM, Lendvai as party chief

The Socialist Party national council was united in support for Gordon Bajnai becoming Hungary's next prime minister yesterday.... [read complete entry]

April 01, 2009, 09:43 CET

Bajnai vows to serve as PM for Ft 1 a month, deliver details on reforms

Hungary's likely next prime minister Gordon Bajnai would work for Ft 1 a month, Socialist Party officials told MTI on Tuesday, confirming reports on several websites.... [read complete entry]

March 31, 2009, 10:48 CET

Bajnai plans for five non-socialist ministers in cabinet

Hungary's Prime Minister nominee Gordon Bajnai plans to appoint five people from outside the governing Socialist Party to key ministries, the party's deputy group leader Attila Mesterhazy said on public TV on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]

November 24, 2008, 08:58 CET

Parties condemn threats against ethnic Hungarian leaders in Slovakia

Hungary's minority governing Socialist Party (MSZP) condemned recent threats against leaders of Slovakia's ethnic Hungarian MKP party and voiced solidarity in a letter, MSZP deputy parliamentary group leader Attila Mesterhazy told MTI in a statement on Saturday.... [read complete entry]

August 06, 2008, 08:24 CET

Hungarian Socialists to visit U.S. Democratic convention

Governing party to send four-person delegation to Denver. [read complete entry]

June 25, 2008, 09:10 CET

MPs picking up full pay and bonuses throughout summer

Despite the summer recess, MPs are still receiving additional fees and reimbursements for travel costs and accommodation. [read complete entry]

March 31, 2008, 01:37 CET

Government in crisis after PM sacks health minister

Liberal head calls for SZDSZ minister to leave posts as MPs boycott Parliament; emergency meeting to decide fate of coalition set for tonight. [read complete entry]