tibor navracsics

March 10, 2010, 09:40 CET

Parties discuss how to capture liberal voters

Representatives of four Hungarian political parties met in Budapest on Tuesday to hold a debate on how to capture the vote potential left behind with the fragmentation of the liberal Free Democrats. Party leader Ildiko Lendvai for the governing Socialists,... [read complete entry]

March 01, 2010, 10:38 CET

Roma leader calls on community to support Fidesz

Florian Farkas, head of Hungarian Roma federation Lungo Drom, called on members to support the main conservative Fidesz party at the upcoming general elections, in his address to the federation's congress in Szolnok (C) on Saturday. Farkas argued that the... [read complete entry]

February 23, 2010, 10:13 CET

President Sólyom, opposition's Orbán lead poll

President Laszlo Solyom was given 47 points out of a maximum of 100 by respondents in a popularity survey by pollster Szonda Ipsos published in Tuesday's Nepszabadsag daily. Viktor Orban, head of the main opposition Fidesz, garnered 44 points -... [read complete entry]

January 20, 2010, 09:13 CET

Fidesz to send letter to pensioners about promises, dangers

Fidesz announced on Tuesday it will mail letters to pensioners outlining its promises affecting them. The party has recently denied that it would adjust the current pension regime after its former finance minister Mihály Varga spoke in an interview with... [read complete entry]

December 28, 2009, 09:24 CET

Fidesz leader says gov't only policy to meet IMF/EU bailout terms

Government policy over the past six months has failed to go beyond meeting conditions for international loans, head of main opposition Fidesz's parliamentary group Tibor Navracsics told MTI in an interview on Sunday. Assessing the past six months, Navracsics said... [read complete entry]

December 16, 2009, 09:29 CET

Socialists, opposition squabble over new private pension fund law

The recently passed law on private pensions has two main goals: to raise the security of old people's savings and to supplement regulation of pension allowance payments which was lacking until now, Socialist MP Tibor Kekesi told MTI on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]

December 15, 2009, 09:55 CET

Fidesz publishes final list of candidates for next general election

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party published a finalised list of its candidates for the next parliament on Monday. The list, presented after a meeting of the party's national board, contains 176 candidates, half of whom are already MPs in the... [read complete entry]

November 02, 2009, 11:23 CET

Gyurcsány addresses Socialist Party session in first post-PM appearance

Former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany addressed a session of his minority governing Socialist Party on Friday, on the occasion of the party's 20th anniversary. Gyurcsany, who made his first public appearance since he resigned in March, called on the Socialists... [read complete entry]

October 26, 2009, 10:23 CET

New poll finds Orbán most popular politician in Hungary

Hungarians continued to rate their politicians negatively in October, though the least unpopular were main opposition leader Viktor Orban tying with the president, Laszlo Solyom, according to a poll by Szonda Ipsos carried in Monday's Nespszabadsag daily. Tibor Navracsics, the... [read complete entry]

August 24, 2009, 11:21 CET

Hungarian politicians less popular than ever

Hungary's politicians scored an average 29 points out of 100 in a recent Szonda Ipsos popularity poll, the daily Nepszabadsag said on Monday. Only President Laszlo Solyom and Viktor Orban, leader of the main opposition Fidesz party, were close to... [read complete entry]

June 30, 2009, 09:41 CET

Bajnai says gov't to "resolutely continue" efforts follow tax vote

"The cabinet, with a steady parliamentary majority, will resolutely continue down its path of the last 75 days, which leads out of the crisis," Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai told Parliament before regular business on Monday. Speaking on the last day... [read complete entry]

June 09, 2009, 09:20 CET

Socialist leader downplays Fidesz victory; underscores Jobbik links

The 1,600,000 votes obtained by Fidesz at Sunday's elections are many, but not enough, as Fidesz failed to convince its own supporters that the election was about a change of government, Socialist leader Ildikó Lendvai told Parliament on Monday afternoon.... [read complete entry]

May 28, 2009, 11:06 CET

Navracsics says Fidesz expects early general elections after EP vote

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party expects early elections in the country just after the European elections, the party's parliamentary group leader told the press during an election rally on Wednesday. Tibor Navracsics said the current government had a poor record.... [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]

March 31, 2009, 10:25 CET

Party leaders express opinions on Bajnai

Party representatives gave their opinions on the nomination of Economy Minister Gordon Bajnai for the post of prime minister before regular business in Parliament yesterday afternoon.... [read complete entry]

February 04, 2009, 11:15 CET

Fidesz slams government for forint free-fall, mounting layoffs

Hungary's opposition Fidesz party blames the weakening of the Hungarian forint to a record low on Tuesday on the Socialists' governing failure, and calls for early elections, a senior Fidesz politician said.... [read complete entry]

January 30, 2009, 09:33 CET

With call for new elections dismissed, Fidesz calls on Gyurcsány to quit

Hungary's political parties understand the need to join the forces but they cannot do so while Ferenc Gyurcsany remains prime minister, Tibor Navracsis, group leader of the main opposition party Fidesz, said during an extraordinary parliamentary session convened to debate... [read complete entry]

January 28, 2009, 09:40 CET

Fidesz to seek dissolution of parliament, early elections

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party and Christian Democrat ally is putting forward a motion to dissolve parliament, Fidesz parliamentary group leader Tibor Navracsics said on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]

January 26, 2009, 11:24 CET

State should support culture more actively, says Fidesz

The state should take a more active role in financing culture and arts, main opposition Fidesz party parliamentary group leader Tibor Navracsics said on Saturday.... [read complete entry]

January 16, 2009, 10:42 CET

Fidesz puts pressure on government to draft new budget

Hungary needs a new budget, as the one planned for 2009 collapsed in the second week of the year, Tibor Navracsics, caucus leader of main opposition party Fidesz has said. "[Finance Minister] János Veres (...) will have to prepare a... [read complete entry]

December 30, 2008, 10:41 CET

Fidesz parliamentary leader says gov't focused on "survival at any price"

In 2008 the Hungarian government's policy focused on "survival at any price", main opposition Fidesz parliamentary group leader Tibor Navracsics told a press conference in Budapest on Monday.... [read complete entry]

December 22, 2008, 10:18 CET

Fidesz leader blames lack of early elections on "apathetic" public

Early elections could come about if broader sections of society were to rouse themselves from apathy, Fidesz caucus leader Tibor Navracsics said in an interview printed in Saturday’s Magyar Nemzet.... [read complete entry]

September 03, 2008, 08:24 CET

Fidesz says opposition suggested government of experts in 2006

Party claims credit for idea of "technocrat" cabinet currently being proposed by Liberals. [read complete entry]

September 02, 2008, 12:24 CET

Fidesz MP known for Hungarian Guard appearances set to retire

You can forgive the centrist wing of Fidesz for feeling a bit exuberant, since as an MTI piece over at index.hu reported earlier today, MP Mária Wittner has said she will not run for reelection, regardless of whether or not... [read complete entry]

August 27, 2008, 08:47 CET

Fidesz slams "incompetence" of minority government

Opposition downplays Socialists' new initiatives, says PM only interested in retaining power for its own sake. [read complete entry]

July 07, 2008, 12:56 CET

Politicians condemn Saturday's disturbances to the Gay Pride March

The prime minister talks of starting a Magyar Charta in opposition to extremism as the parties weigh in over Saturday's disturbances. [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]

June 12, 2008, 09:20 CET

Orbán to launch premature election campaign today

Fidesz chairman to declare "combat readiness" in preparation for as yet unannounced early elections as US Republican Party experts are brought in to prime party members. [read complete entry]

June 05, 2008, 10:25 CET

Remembrances held on Trianon anniversary

Exactly 88 years on, Fidesz caucus leader Tibor Navracsics has denounced the post-WWI treaty that carved up the Austro-Hungarian empire. [read complete entry]

June 03, 2008, 10:39 CET

Opposition leaders miss vote on Tibet

Orbán and two associates fined for arriving late at session that saw government prevail in human rights motion by just two votes. [read complete entry]

May 19, 2008, 09:20 CET

Parties clash on cordon ruling

MPs at loggerheads as charges are dropped against Fidesz MPs for dismantling the barrier around Parliament in February. [read complete entry]

May 07, 2008, 09:49 CET

Fidesz caucus leader calls out "bad host" Gyurcsány

Tibor Navracics says a 2003 dinner at the Gyurcsány's home degenerated into bitter political squabble. [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]

April 23, 2008, 12:06 CET

Respected British weekly's country of origin mystifies leaders of the right

Not one, but three ranking members of Hungary's opposition were uncertain as to the national origins of The Economist. [read complete entry]

April 03, 2008, 09:07 CET

Opposition faction leader criticizes government as doing nothing

Fidesz caucus leader Tibor Navracsics on Wednesday described the coalition as one of talking big and doing nothing. He said owing to the ongoing coalition dispute, no substantive government measures can be expected for nine or ten months. This year... [read complete entry]

April 02, 2008, 09:11 CET

Coalition split puts Hungary in peril, says Fidesz caucus leader

The economy will be the most direct loser from the coalition wrangling and after a social and political crisis an economic crisis may soon occur, Fidesz caucus leader Tibor Navracsics told reporters on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]

March 18, 2008, 09:32 CET

Parliament abolishes unpopular medical and tuition fees

Parliament voted Monday to abolish nominal medical fees and to ban tuition fees, as required by the outcome of the March 9 referendum. Accordingly, the two kinds of medical fees will be phased out from April 1, and tuition fees... [read complete entry]

February 27, 2008, 01:39 CET

Opposition critical of "secret" South Stream pipeline deal

While the international press have been chewing over the "pipeline war" and weighing up the consequences of Hungary signing up for the Russian South Stream gas pipeline project alongside Serbia, Austria and Italy, the move has also met with criticism... [read complete entry]

February 26, 2008, 10:10 CET

Gyurcsány lays down schedule for new programs

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány put bourgeoisation and the introduction of new political methods at the centre of his speech before regular business in Parliament Monday afternoon. He said debates on taxation reform and a new skills and ownership programme could... [read complete entry]

February 13, 2008, 10:00 CET

Health insurance battle not over, says opposition

The story of the health care bill is far from over, as Fidesz morally supports a referendum drive to halt the implementation of the bill, caucus leader Tibor Navracsics told a Tuesday press conference. The governing majority knows that the... [read complete entry]

November 29, 2007, 10:40 CET

Fidesz to announce new "Strong Hungary" program

Main opposition party Fidesz will announce the details of a 100-page program entitled "Strong Hungary" ("Erős Magyarország") at a conference in Budapest on Saturday, reports Gazdasági Rádió. At the conference, which will be held at the Gólyavár events hall of... [read complete entry]

November 27, 2007, 09:49 CET

Parliament rejects bill on MP gender parity

Parliament has voted against a bill that would have required a minimum numbers of female MPs be elected in each cycle. [read complete entry]