imre szekeres

March 01, 2010, 10:36 CET

Gov't, ministry, Socialists see no reason for defence minister's resignation

Neither the government, nor the Defence Ministry, or the ruling Socialist Party see a necessity for Defence Minister Imre Szekeres to resign over a suspected bribery case involving a business owned by, and operating under the control of, the ministry.... [read complete entry]

February 08, 2010, 10:08 CET

Ministers call for May deadline on NATO command reform

NATO defence ministers asked the alliance's secretary-general to make plans for the reform of NATO command structure within the next three months, Hungary's Defence Minister Imre Szekeres said on Friday. Attending a two-day informal meeting of NATO ministers in Istanbul,... [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, 09:27 CET

Bajnai leaves for Washington for four-day visit

Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai will meet US Vice-President Joe Biden during the four-day working visit starting in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. Bajnai's entourage will include Defence Minister Imre Szekeres, liberal Free Democrat parliamentary leader Janos Koka and a Bajnai... [read complete entry]

October 28, 2009, 09:21 CET

Hungary to send two helicopters, 30-strong crew to Afghanistan

The Hungarian armed forces will send two Mi-17 helicopters and a 30-strong crew to Afghanistan in 2011, Defence Minister Imre Szekeres said on Tuesday. The Hungarian armed forces will cooperate with other NATO member states to jointly provide the logistics... [read complete entry]

October 01, 2009, 10:16 CET

Defense Minister says Afghan peacekeeping mission a success story

The Hungarian armed forces' peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan has been a success story, Hungarian Minister of Defence Imre Szekeres said at a reception ceremony held in Nyiregyhaza (NE) on Wednesday. The minister welcomed the 6th of the rotating units of... [read complete entry]

August 04, 2009, 10:54 CET

Secret services minister to leave post for Socialist party campaign work

Adam Ficsor, minister without portfolio in charge of the civilian secret services, confirmed to MTI on Tuesday that he would leave his post in the autumn. He said he would depart as of September 14 to take up duties in... [read complete entry]

August 04, 2009, 10:49 CET

MSZP chair downplays party's plunging popularity

"We made a good decision in the country's interests and, I hope, also in those of the party," Socialist Party chairwoman Ildikó Lendvai told Inforádió on Monday in answer to a question about her party's significant drop in popularity since... [read complete entry]

August 03, 2009, 11:02 CET

Socialist ministers expected to leave government to manage 2010 campaign

Some of the ministers in Gordon Bajnai's government may leave their post after passing the 2010 budget to assume top functions for the Socialist party's campaign for the 2010 elections, Nepszabadsag daily said on Monday. Two ministers, Adam Ficsor in... [read complete entry]

July 28, 2009, 12:12 CET

First NATO transport plane arrives at Hungarian air base

The first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to arrive in Hungary - part of NATO's Strategic Transportation Fleet - was presented to the media at the Pápa military airfield on Monday. Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai, Defence Minister Imre Szekeres and NATO... [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, 09:44 CET

Socialist chairwoman says party needs new face for PM

The Socialist Party needs a new, young prime ministerial candidate who is capable of regaining the trust of voters, party chairwoman Ildikó Lendvai told a press conference on Sunday. She said the July 4 party convention should debate an action... [read complete entry]

May 08, 2009, 09:50 CET

Ministry abandons politically-unpopular NATO radar project

Defence Minister Imre Szekeres on Thursday instructed the ministry's legal department to withdraw its challenge to the suspension of the construction permit for a NATO radar station atop the Tubes hill near Pécs. It said it continues to respect the... [read complete entry]

April 27, 2009, 07:36 CET

Defense minister says Hungarian military could deploy in Africa

Hungary's armed forces have begun preparations for a possible deployment to Africa from 2011, Defence Minister Imre Szekeres told MTI on Friday.... [read complete entry]

April 14, 2009, 09:46 CET

Bajnai cabinet expected to retain some Gyurcsány holdovers

Some ministers of outgoing Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's cabinet are expected to keep their post in Gordon Bajnai's new government, which will feature some new members as well, the online edition of national daily Nepszabadsag said on Monday.... [read complete entry]

April 07, 2009, 12:37 CET

Bajnai seen keeping three Socialists in cabinet

Hungary's prime minister designate Gordon Bajnai is likely to appoint new leaders to ministries which are vital to crisis management, Nepszava daily said on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]

April 06, 2009, 08:17 CET

Hungary's defense minister pushes for common NATO budget

Financing NATO out of a common pool of funds would help the organisation mitigate the effects of the global economic crisis, Hungary's Defence Minister Imre Szekeres said on Saturday, at the NATO summit currently underway in Strasbourg.... [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 02, 2009, 09:47 CET

Three candidates to vie for top MSZP post

"The Socialist Party will have three main candidates for the post of party chairman at Sunday's convention; Péter Kiss, Ildikó Lendvai and Imre Szekeres," deputy chairwoman Mónika Lamperth announced after an executive committee meeting on Wednesday.... [read complete entry]

April 01, 2009, 09:46 CET

Lendvai to run for MSZP chair

Socialist Party caucus leader Ildikó Lendvai was persuaded at a meeting of the party's executive committee and county chapter leaders yesterday to run for the soon to be vacant post of party chair at Sunday's convention.... [read complete entry]

March 24, 2009, 08:17 CET

Why I am banking on a central banker as Hungary's "savior" PM

I got some grief from commenters when I wrote a few weeks back that I thought the odds of an "expert" government coming in to power were higher than most so-called "experts" seemed to believe. While my argument probably overstated... [read complete entry]

March 23, 2009, 09:29 CET

Gyurcsány says resignation decision "final"

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány underlined on Sunday night that his decision to resign his post is final and Hungary will have a new prime minister within a few weeks.... [read complete entry]

March 20, 2009, 11:02 CET

Hungary's Socialists brace for tense weekend congress

The main objective of representatives gathered at the minority governing Socialist party's weekend conference is to get the necessary party authorisation for further economic crisis management measures, Nepszabadsag daily said on Friday.... [read complete entry]

March 20, 2009, 07:31 CET

Deputy leader of Socialist party hits at Gyurcsány's removal

Hungary's governing Socialists are determined to find ways to regain voters' trust in the government, deputy party leader Imre Szekeres said on Thursday.... [read complete entry]

March 17, 2009, 10:32 CET

Gyurcsány expected to easily win re-election as Socialist leader

Hungary's Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is not expected to face a challenger when the Socialist party convenes at the weekend to hold elections for senior posts, but minor changes in top leadership are possible, Nepszabadsag daily said on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]

March 06, 2009, 12:46 CET

Szekeres not to challenge Gyurcsány for Socialist party chairmanship

Defense minister Imre Szekeres has announced he will not challenge Socialist Party chairman Ferenc Gyurcsány at the upcoming party congress, fn.hu reports. Szekeres was nominated by the Socialist Party's Nográd County grouping to stand alongside Gyurcsány and Socialist parliamentary faction... [read complete entry]

February 23, 2009, 08:52 CET

Defense Minister says joint financing of NATO response force needed

The principle of joint financing should be applied to the NATO response force (NRF), Hungary's Defence Minister Imre Szekeres said on Friday.... [read complete entry]

February 02, 2009, 09:44 CET

Socialists' spring congress to focus on winning back voter trust

The minority governing Socialist Party's planned congress in March is expected to discuss ways to win back the trust of voters that the party has lost, the party deputy leader Imre Szekeres said on Saturday.... [read complete entry]

January 29, 2009, 10:21 CET

Gyurcsány emerges as least popular politician in new poll

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is the least popular official of his minority Socialist government, according to a Nezopont Institute poll.... [read complete entry]

December 10, 2008, 07:53 CET

Defense minister calls for increased spending on armed forces

Hungary's government must gradually boost defence spending to above 1.3 percent of gross domestic product, Defence Minister Imre Szekeres said in a briefing to lawmakers on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]

October 10, 2008, 08:27 CET

Hungary to hike defence spending by 0.2% of GDP

Hungary will increase defence spending by 7% next year and by 0.2% of GDP annually over the next five years, Defence Minister Imre Szekeres announced Thursday as NATO defence ministers began a two-day informal conference in Budapest. Prime Minister Ferenc... [read complete entry]

September 23, 2008, 09:35 CET

Free Democrats and Socialists meeting today for talks

Top-level delegations from the Socialist Party and the Free Democrats will meet for a second session of talks today. The first round was held two weeks ago.... [read complete entry]

September 09, 2008, 07:49 CET

Foreign Ministry official says Hungary supports Georgia's NATO bid

Hungary supports Georgia's accelerated accession to NATO, state secretary at the foreign ministry Marta Horvath Fekszi told MTI on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]

September 03, 2008, 08:26 CET

Socialist powerbroker stands behind PM's economic plan

Szekeres says government confident of obtaining parliamentary majority for bill. [read complete entry]

August 19, 2008, 09:35 CET

Defense Minister sees Georgia joining NATO

Imre Szekeres concurred with US Ambassador April Foley about Georgia's future in NATO. [read complete entry]

August 01, 2008, 08:45 CET

Analysts say Gyurcsány unlikely to be replaced before next election

Nézőpont Intézet report says PM's opponents too weak, divided to force his resignation. [read complete entry]

July 18, 2008, 10:39 CET

American FBI probes company linked to Hungarian arms trading

Firm headed by former Senator supplied refurbished Hungarian tanks to Iraq in 2005, daily reports. [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]

November 27, 2007, 09:55 CET

Secret service snags over Laborc vetting

Military Security Office director general Géza Stefán has turned down a request from Defence Minister Imre Szekeres to vet Sándor Laborc, candidate for the post of National Security Office director general, because of a recent article in Magyar Hírlap.... [read complete entry]

November 23, 2007, 11:43 CET

Defense minister says Hungary's stability depends on coalition's survival

Socialist deputy head identifies health reform as primary stumbling block [read complete entry]

November 20, 2007, 10:02 CET

NATO base to be opened near Pápa

Pápa has been chosen as the location for a NATO airbase which will supply troops currently in Iraq and Afghanistan, Defense Minster Imre Szekeres announced, writes BBJ.hu. Selected over Germany’s Ramstein and Romania’s Konstanca, the base will also add 300-500... [read complete entry]