kdnp

March 04, 2010, 09:56 CET

Opposition moves rally to other side of Danube

The main opposition Fidesz party and its election ally Christian Democrats decided to move their campaign-opening rally on the national holiday of March 15 to a new site, a senior Fidesz official told MTI on Wednesday. Fidesz originally planned to... [read complete entry]

March 04, 2010, 09:51 CET

Fidesz retains large lead in polls; willingness to vote increases

Fidesz has 52% support amongst potential voters while 19% back the Socialists and 14% Jobbik, a Nézöpont Institute poll found. Socialist support is below 5% in the 30-44 age band, while 19% of Hungary's over 60s favour the party. The... [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 01, 2010, 10:34 CET

Fodor-Kóka duel killed liberals, Horn says in TV interview

The Free Democrats made a lot of mistakes over recent years, for which voters punished the party, senior party official Gábor Horn told ATV television station Sunday night. "There is no more Alliance of Free Democrats, only two or three... [read complete entry]

February 22, 2010, 10:03 CET

Campaign experts mull psyche of Hungarian voter

Hungarians are paternalistic, consumption-oriented and pessimistic, a brainstorming conference of researchers and campaign managers seeking a glance into the profile of the typical voter concluded, national daily Nepszabadsag reported on Friday. Addressing voter attitudes before the spring general elections, consultant... [read complete entry]

February 22, 2010, 10:02 CET

Fidesz receives over a million nominations from voters

The Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance has collected over one million nominations, executive director Zsolt Nyitrai announced on Sunday. He said the party's target of two million nominations remains a realistic goal, adding that no other party has collected as many as... [read complete entry]

February 12, 2010, 09:46 CET

Support for Fidesz slightly down, but party still leads polls

Fidesz support has fallen from 63% of decided voters in January to 58% this month, but the party still commands a huge lead over the Socialists, whose standing rose slightly from 21% to 22%, according to the latest survey by... [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 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]

November 06, 2009, 11:28 CET

Fidesz, Christian Democrats withdraw bill on Hungarian minorities

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party and its Christian Democrat ally are withdrawing their bill which sought to ease rules on obtaining citizenship ethnic Hungarians resident abroad, Christian Democrat MP Istvan Simicsko told MTI on Friday. Simicsko explained the withdrawal, claiming... [read complete entry]

November 02, 2009, 09:42 CET

Christian Democrats join chorus against Czech opt-out from EU charter

The promise of granting the Czech Republic an opt-out from the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights can be interpreted as confirmation that the post-WWII Benes decrees would remain in place, Zsolt Semjen, head of the Christian Democratic People's Party,... [read complete entry]

October 28, 2009, 09:47 CET

Socialists say they back dual citizenship for ethnic Hungarians abroad

The ruling Socialist party supports the idea of easing conditions for ethnic Hungarians who wish to apply of dual citizenship, people close to the discussions told MTI on condition of anonymity. The opposition Fidesz-Christian Democratic alliance submitted a bill on... [read complete entry]

September 28, 2009, 09:29 CET

Christian Democrats to cooperate with Roma group in preparing election program

Conservative opposition party Christian Democrats (KDNP) will cooperate with the Roma College in preparing the party's election programme, a party spokeswoman said on Friday. Zsuzsa Halasz welcomed Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai's recent announcement on plans to employ 200 new Roma... [read complete entry]

September 14, 2009, 09:51 CET

New Szonda Ipsos survey shows Fidesz lead slipping

Fidesz's popularity among decided voters dropped from 65% in July to 60% in September, while that of the Socialists rose from 21% to 23%, according to a Szonda Ipsos survey. The poll suggests that Fidesz has lost 800,000 supporters since... [read complete entry]

September 01, 2009, 02:54 CET

Religious education cutbacks "violate Vatican Treaty"

After recent tugs-of-war over the murky depths of the Slovak language law and gay pride, the next populist bandwagon to be leapt on by the Hungarian nation may be its religious education. According to Zsolt Semjén, president of the Christian... [read complete entry]

August 13, 2009, 09:34 CET

Szonda-Ipsos poll puts Fidesz support at 63%; MSZP below 20%

Fidesz has 63% support among decided party voters, the Socialists 18% and Jobbik 12%, a Szonda-Ipsos poll found. The Democratic Forum had 2%, and the Free Democrats and Politics Can Be Different 1% each. The Christian Democrats have negligible support,... [read complete entry]

June 17, 2009, 12:31 CET

Christian Dem youth wing gives Socialists symbolic grave to mark the previous twenty years

Yesterday afternoon, the Christian Democrats' youth wing placed a coffin with the party's name and the dates 1989-2009 in front of the Socialist Party headquarters, mno.hu reported. Although one would expect the coffin to be a reflection on the recent... [read complete entry]

June 15, 2009, 09:08 CET

Right-wing leader calls for Fidesz-Jobbik alliance

Fidesz and Jobbik are not enemies and should combine their forces in the interests of national goals, Civil Unity Forum spokesman Tamás Fricz said in a speech at a demonstration demanding early elections near Kossuth tér on Sunday afternoon. The... [read complete entry]

June 12, 2009, 10:00 CET

EP vote indicates Fidesz could have won "supermajority" in general election

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz-KDNP would have acquired two-thirds majority support if the general elections had been held instead of the European Parliamentary elections on June 7, dailies Nepszabadsag and Magyar Nemzet reported on Friday quoting pollster Nezopont Institute. The Fidesz-KDNP... [read complete entry]

June 12, 2009, 09:43 CET

Fidesz, Christian Democrats consider proposal to dissolve Parliament

The opposition Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance will once again submit its motion for dissolving Parliament if the chance arises, Christian Democrats (KDNP) leader Zsolt Semjen told reporters in Budapest on Thursday. "Should there be a chance for dissolving Parliament with the... [read complete entry]

June 02, 2009, 08:07 CET

Latest poll suggests Fidesz could win 16 of 22 EP seats in Sunday vote

Support for Hungary's main opposition Fidesz and allied Christian Democratic Party (KDNP) at the upcoming European Parliamentary elections has grown further according to pollster Szazadveg-Forsense. According to the report released on Friday, Fidesz-KDNP could win as many as 16 seats,... [read complete entry]

May 18, 2009, 11:15 CET

Poll forecasts landslide opposition victory in EP elections

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz and allied Christian Democratic Party (KDNP) could win a landslide victory at the forthcoming European Parliamentary elections, the Hungarian Gallup Institute told MTI on Friday. According to a survey conducted earlier in May, Fidesz-KDNP enjoys a... [read complete entry]

May 15, 2009, 09:28 CET

Fidesz wins first place on ballots for EP elections

The Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance will top the list of parties on the ballots in the European parliamentary elections, as it came out first when the National Election Commission drew lots on Thursday to determine the order. The Free Democrats will... [read complete entry]

May 11, 2009, 09:39 CET

Eight party alliances qualify for European Parliament elections

Eight parties and alliances filed a sufficient number of nominations to the National Election Commission by Friday's deadline to qualify for the European parliamentary elections.... [read complete entry]

April 28, 2009, 12:21 CET

Pollster sees 15 MEP seats for Fidesz, one for Jobbik

A much higher voter turnout than five years ago is expected at the European Parliament (EP) elections on June 7, Forsense forecasts. Fidesz and the Christian Democrats will obtain 15 of the 22 MEP seats available to Hungary, the Socialist... [read complete entry]

April 15, 2009, 09:27 CET

MPs reject motion to dissolve parliament

Parliamentary deputies on Tuesday voted against a proposal seeking to dissolve parliament and facilitate early elections to be put on the agenda.... [read complete entry]

April 08, 2009, 12:01 CET

Fidesz rejects offer of talks with "illegitimate" Bajnai cabinet

Fidesz yesterday rejected an invitation from Prime Minister designate Gordon Bajnai to discuss the future cabinet's plans to manage the economic crisis.... [read complete entry]

January 29, 2009, 09:09 CET

SZDSZ refuses to back early elections

Hungary's liberal opposition Free Democrats will not support main opposition Fidesz's motion for early elections, party leader Gabor Fodor said on Wednesday.... [read complete entry]

November 03, 2008, 03:25 CET

Hungarians wary of prospect of two-party parliament

A majority of Hungarians would like to see more than two parties after the next general election scheduled for 2010, according to a recent Publicus poll in Monday's Nepszava daily.... [read complete entry]

September 17, 2008, 11:08 CET

Liberals, conservatives both targets of Hungarian PM's blog

The liberal party has no real community of interest with the right-of-centre Fidesz and Christian Democrat parties, and can strongly influence governing Socialist party legislation from the outside, so it makes no sense for it to court the right, Prime... [read complete entry]

September 15, 2008, 05:13 CET

Parliament votes to keep cushy jobs for a while longer

Rather unsurprisingly, today's parliamentary vote on dissolving itself, put forward by center-right party Democratic Forum (MDF) failed, with the majority of MPs voting to keep their cushy jobs for some time longer, writes origo.hu. The motion was also supported by... [read complete entry]

September 10, 2008, 02:58 CET

Democratic Forum to put forward motion to dissolve parliament

Rather unexpectedly, not least of which is because of the potential for political suicide, the Democratic Forum (MDF) will submit a motion to dissolve parliament by September 30th, wrote index.hu. The decision comes on the heels of a tri-party meeting... [read complete entry]

September 09, 2008, 04:01 CET

Opposition Fidesz, Christian Dems to attend meetings initiated by MDF, SZDSZ

Main opposition Fidesz and its Christian Democrat ally on Tuesday said they would attend opposition meetings initiated by leader of conservative Democratic Forum as well as the one called by liberal Free Democrats.... [read complete entry]

September 08, 2008, 01:44 CET

PM's right-hand man denies shadowy right-wing Christian/liberal Jewish plot to seize power

Given all the various challenges facing Ferenc Gyurcsány these days, it's not surprising that some of the rumors about the tenuous position of our esteemed PM would turn out to be both false and distasteful. Here's my favorite so far:... [read complete entry]

July 25, 2008, 08:55 CET

Thousands protest removal of Turul statue

Skinheads clash as up to 2,500 demonstrate in favor of controversial nationalist symbol in Buda. [read complete entry]

July 23, 2008, 04:53 CET

Budapest district mayor joins defense of nationalist monument

Pokorni writes open letter to Budapest mayor Gábor Demszky pointing to "witch hunt" as far-right groups plan Thursday action to protect Turul from removal. [read complete entry]

June 20, 2008, 10:08 CET

Fidesz leads way in online politics

Experts estimate that Fidesz has spent three times more on its website than the Socialists - and it shows. [read complete entry]

June 09, 2008, 09:42 CET

Parties respond to Fodor's victory as Free Dem chairman

Hungary's parliamentary political parties gave their reactions to Gábor Fodor's election as Free Democrat party chairman. [read complete entry]

May 29, 2008, 10:12 CET

Fidesz continues to enjoy huge lead over Socialists

Fidesz still has 68% support among decided party voters, the same figure as last month, while the Socialist Party (MSZP) upped its support from 23% in April to 24% in May, a Szonda Ipsos poll has found. [read complete entry]

May 06, 2008, 09:54 CET

Gyurcsány rules out confidence vote

Calling 2008 a year of "peaceful turnaround," PM rejects call to put his party's government to a vote by MPs. [read complete entry]

May 05, 2008, 11:50 CET

Socialist party to withdraw health insurance law

Referendum result and political opposition have forced the government to cancel plans to introduce a multi-insurer system. [read complete entry]

April 30, 2008, 10:15 CET

Cabinet, doctors reach agreement on compensation for lost visit fees

New agreement will allocate Ft 150-160,000 extra funds to GPs, pediatricians and dentists. [read complete entry]

April 28, 2008, 10:13 CET

Socialists maintain parliamentary majority despite coalition split

Assuming the continued support of the 20 SZDSZ members of parliament, the government still holds a narrow majority. [read complete entry]

April 25, 2008, 09:42 CET

Budapest city council demands removal of nationalist statue

Mayor suspends session as right-wing demonstrators protest dismantling of "turul" monument [read complete entry]

April 15, 2008, 09:59 CET

Hungarian Parliament rejects third round of ombudsmen nominations

The recommendations of increasingly frustrated State President László Sólyom for environmental and data privacy regulators have been voted down once again [read complete entry]

April 15, 2008, 09:43 CET

National Election Office to verify referendum signatures

The National Election Commission (OVB) on Monday ordered the National Election Office (OVI) to start verifying the signatures submitted in favour of a referendum against the privatisation of health insurance. Under a unanimous decision by the OVB, the OVI will... [read complete entry]

April 11, 2008, 12:02 CET

Prime Minister to face difficulties in finding "outside" voters for his minority government

Caucus leaders for the varying political parties in parliament have all made it clear they are not intent on supporting the minority government. [read complete entry]

February 12, 2008, 09:41 CET

Parliament passes bill on multi-player health insurance, again

The government's controversial health bill has been passed for a second time despite protests and opposition indignation, and this time President László Sólyom can't send it back for review. [read complete entry]

January 28, 2008, 11:26 CET

Low turnout voids opposition win in Budapest by-election

Voter disinterest spoils smashing win by Fidesz-KDNP in campaign for seat left open after MP's death [read complete entry]

January 24, 2008, 09:41 CET

Sólyom sets March 9 as national referendum date

President László Sólyom on Wednesday set the date for the Fidesz-Christian Democrat-initiated referendum on banning tuition, visiting and daily hospital fees for Sunday, March 9. His office said the president had opted for the early date as he does not... [read complete entry]

January 23, 2008, 09:12 CET

Constitutional Court clears way for Fidesz referendum

The Constitutional Court on Tuesday rejected individual-submitted objections to the December 17 parliamentary resolution ordering a Fidesz-Christian Democrat initiated referendum on banning visit, daily hospital and tuition fees, thus removing the referendum's final obstacle.... [read complete entry]

January 21, 2008, 10:58 CET

Törökbálint local elections result in sweeping Fidesz victory

Mid-term elections for local council seats see sweep by conservative parties in electoral districts. [read complete entry]

January 07, 2008, 09:35 CET

Four candidates announced in Újbuda by-election

There will be four candidates in the by-election for the vacant 11th District of Újbuda parliamentary seat of the late Christian Democrat MP András Deák.... [read complete entry]

December 21, 2007, 11:00 CET

MPs reject president's nominees for ombudsman

The Hungarian Parliament did not approve President László Sólyom's two candidates for the data protection and future generation ombudsman posts during a voting held on the weekend, writes Népszabadság.... [read complete entry]

December 07, 2007, 09:38 CET

Opposition walks out of health committee

Fidesz and Christian Democrat MPs walked out of Thursday's meeting of Parliament's health committee, complaining that they did not have enough time to consider nearly 40 motions for amendment to the bill on transforming the health insurance system.... [read complete entry]

December 04, 2007, 11:30 CET

Opposition throws hissy fit over "communist" pub in Csepel

Oppositon parties Fidesz and KDNP are getting all upset over the recent opening of a pub in Csepel, Budapest's District XXI, which is decorated with communist symbols, left-wing daily Népszava reports. The notary of the district said that they had... [read complete entry]