attila retkes

March 03, 2010, 09:55 CET

Actually, it was the Free Democrats' unwavering support of the Socialists that killed them

Reading Gábor Horn's comments about how the Kóka-Fodor "duel" killed the liberals, all I could think about was how Horn had finally settled on a scapegoat for his party's demise, and how wrong he was. The Free Democrats' problems more... [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 19, 2010, 09:24 CET

Liberal leader seeks centrist coalition

Hungary's liberal Free Democrats are seeking to cooperate with several centrist parties in the hope of heading off what current polls indicate will be a three-party parliament, with conservative Fidesz and radical Jobbik on the right facing the Socialist party... [read complete entry]

January 13, 2010, 09:31 CET

Democratic Forum may field Liberals, former US ambassador in 2010 elections

Former ambassador to Washington Andras Simonyi is planned to top the Budapest list of conservative opposition MDF party candidates in the 2010 general elections, daily Nepszava said on Tuesday, quoting unnamed sources. The paper also said that MDF and the... [read complete entry]

January 05, 2010, 10:36 CET

Liberal leader says party to remain in Parliament, despite breakup

The liberal Free Democrats (SZDSZ) seek to retain their seats in Hungary's next Parliament to be elected in the spring, party leader Attila Retkes told MTI in an interview published on Tuesday. He said that the liberals, now in opposition,... [read complete entry]

December 14, 2009, 11:13 CET

Liberals approve new program at weekend party congress

Delegates at the Saturday congress of the liberal Free Democrats approved the party's programme for the period 2010-2014, the party's leader told a news conference. The programme was endorsed by an overwhelming majority, said Attila Retkes. Delegates also voted to... [read complete entry]

December 01, 2009, 04:54 CET

Free Democrats divorce their own parliamentary faction

Following yesterday's passing of the 2010 budget with the help of the Free Democrats, Free Democrat Party Chairman Attila Retkes (pictured) held a press conference to announce he was dissolving his party's parliamentary faction, index.hu reports. According to Retkes, the... [read complete entry]

November 16, 2009, 08:39 CET

Liberals deeply divided over 2010 budget

The National Council of the opposition liberal Free Democrats (SZDSZ) does not support next year's state budget and recommends that the party's parliamentary group should also reject it, party chairman Attila Retkes told reporters after the council's Saturday session. The... [read complete entry]

November 11, 2009, 09:45 CET

Retkes proposes Bokros as joint MSZP-SZDSZ-MDF candidate for PM

Former finance minister Lajos Bokros should run as the joint candidate for prime minister of the Socialists, the Free Democrats and the Democratic Forum at next year's parliamentary elections, Free Democrat chairman Attila Retkes suggested. In an interview published on... [read complete entry]

November 05, 2009, 10:05 CET

SZDSZ head says party to vote against budget bill

The leader of Hungary's liberal Free Democrats insisted on Wednesday that his party would refuse to support the government's 2010 budget bill. In a vote on Tuesday, MPs approved the main figures of the bill which includes a budget deficit... [read complete entry]

September 24, 2009, 09:37 CET

Liberal head says ethnic Hungarians in regions should get citizenship

The small liberal Free Democrats support that members of the Hungarian minority in other countries should - on certain conditions - be granted Hungarian citizenship, chairman Attila Retkes told reporters on Wednesday. "All people who consider themselves Hungarian and want... [read complete entry]

September 11, 2009, 11:24 CET

PM in talks with SZDSZ head over 2010 budget

The 2010 budget bill was the focus of talks between Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and liberal opposition Free Democrats leader Attila Retkes on Thursday. Retkes said that on the basis of the basic budget figures, he saw a good chance... [read complete entry]

September 04, 2009, 09:48 CET

Gyurcsány linked to possible new liberal party

Ex-Free Democrat chairman Gábor Fodor sees a chance for the establishment of a new liberal party in which he could play a part, if its set of values were close to his own. In an interview with heol.hu website, Fodor... [read complete entry]

September 03, 2009, 09:31 CET

Resignation of District major VIII linked to Corvin Promenade deal

Eighth District independent mayor Béla Csécsei’s resignation from the local council was accepted by its other members yesterday. He had held the post since February 1993. Csécsei, who quit the Free Democrats after Attila Retkes was elected party chairman in... [read complete entry]

August 19, 2009, 09:35 CET

Disgruntled SZDSZ leaders form new group, may challenge for Liberal votes

Several well-known members of the SZDSZ - including former Education Minister Bálint Magyar and former Party Chairman Gábor Kuncze - formed a new liberal group called Szabadelvű Polgári Egyesület (Liberal Civil Association; SZPE) on Monday, index.hu reports. Leaders of the... [read complete entry]

August 12, 2009, 09:50 CET

Kóka continues to ignore calls from SZDSZ to quit caucus leadership

The Free Democrat leadership's resignation deadline for caucus leader János Kóka expired at midnight, party chairman Attila Retkes told Inforádió on Tuesday. Retkes said the liberal party's executive body will meet later in the week to discuss possible sanctions. "The... [read complete entry]

July 27, 2009, 12:43 CET

Kóka to outdo former mentor Gyurcsány, completely destroy his party

It was only years ago that Free Democrat parliamentary faction leader (and former party chairman) János Kóka was the protégé of former prime minister and Socialist Party chairman Ferenc Gyurcsány. Then the two of them stopped getting along, and Kóka,... [read complete entry]

July 27, 2009, 10:25 CET

New SZDSZ leaders say party cannot support more economic crisis measures

The new leadership of Hungary's liberal Free Democrats continue to support the government's crisis management measures, but no further ones, party leader Attila Retkes said on Sunday, reacting to Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai's letter to political party group leaders asking... [read complete entry]

July 21, 2009, 10:20 CET

Kóka vows to stay on as SZDSZ caucus leader, slams new party chief

Free Democrat caucus leader János Kóka yesterday re-asserted that he will stay on as Free Democrat caucus leader for as long as he has "the confidence of a majority of caucus members and while the prospect of crisis management and... [read complete entry]

July 20, 2009, 11:54 CET

New SZDSZ chair presses for resignation of parliamentary leader

Free Democrat leader Attila Retkes repeated his call for caucus leader János Kóka to resign in an interview with Inforádió on Sunday. Retkes said the liberal party had erred by supporting former Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy after his past in... [read complete entry]

July 16, 2009, 10:04 CET

Former SZDSZ chairman says party's end is near

"The history of the Free Democrats will come to its end in the near future," former chairman Iván Pető told alternative weekly Magyar Narancs in an interview. "The way Gábor Fodor became chairman, using accusations of election fraud, his way... [read complete entry]

July 15, 2009, 09:49 CET

Actually, "cultural elitist" isn't a compliment

As the old political saying goes, the only polls that count are the ones on election day. Still, when the poll numbers are as cruel as the ones for the SZDSZ - they all show the party being decisively turfed... [read complete entry]

July 14, 2009, 10:34 CET

Famous liberals desert SZDSZ as party's woes mount

A dozen well-known personalities of Hungary's small liberal opposition Free Democrats announced their decision to leave the party in a letter sent to MTI on Monday. The signatories, including founding members Gyorgy Konrad, Miklos Haraszti, Gabor Ivanyi and Laszlo Rajk,... [read complete entry]

July 13, 2009, 11:35 CET

New SZDSZ head calls on parliamentary leader to step down; Kóka refuses

Attila Retkes, newly elected head of Hungary's Free Democrats on Sunday called on parliamentary group leader Janos Koka to leave his post without delay. The majority of delegates at Sunday's meeting expressed support for his proposal. Koka said he would... [read complete entry]

July 13, 2009, 08:48 CET

Analysts say new chairman no solution to Liberals' problems

The election of a new chairman has not solved the problems of the Free Democrats, internal fighting will continue, analysts of two think-tanks agreed on Sunday, after the party elected new leaders. The new chairman, Attila Retkes, has been one... [read complete entry]

July 08, 2009, 09:54 CET

Three candidates emerge as Liberals prepare for leadership election

Four candidates for liberal opposition Free Democrat leader have qualified to run in the party election this weekend, but only three of them accepted the nomination, MTI learnt on Tuesday from liberal sources who asked to remain anonymous. The three... [read complete entry]

July 07, 2009, 10:34 CET

Candidate for SZDSZ chair vows to stop supporting government

Chairman candidate of Hungary's liberal Free Democrats Attila Retkes told MTI on Monday that the party would stop supporting the Bajnai government if he were elected. The Free Democrats will act as a true opposition party, Retkes said, adding that... [read complete entry]

July 02, 2009, 10:11 CET

Gusztos withdraws from Liberal leadership race

Free Democrat deputy caucus leader Péter Gusztos announced in his blog on Wednesday that he will not run for the position of party chairman, nor any other party posts. He wrote that "the Free Democrats cannot face up to their... [read complete entry]