PM urges calm after riots

BUDAPEST – Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany defied opposition pressure to quit yesterday after anti-government riots he called “the longest and darkest night of the republic”.

The worst riots in Hungary since the end of communism followed the leak of a tape on Sunday in which Gyurcsany said he and his Socialist party had lied for four years about Hungary’s budget in order to win a general election in April. Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Budapest late on Monday, attacking the state television building in clashes which left 150 injured.Higher taxes and fees for healthcare and university tuition had prompted protests before the release of the tape sparked the violent backlash.The protests came two weeks ahead of local elections on Oct.1 and follow a slump in the ruling Socialist Party’s popularity to 25 per cent in polls from 40 per cent at the election.Streets were calm yesterday and only about 50 protesters were left in front of the parliament building and police presence appeared light.Monday’s demonstration by around 10 000 people in front of parliament turned violent when some protesters stoned and set fire to the state television building, occupied part of it and looted it.Some 150 demonstrators and police were injured.The main Fidesz opposition urged the prime minister to go.”There is a moral crisis unfolding and Ferenc Gyurcsany should make it clear that his comments referred to their period in government,” Tibor Navracsics, opposition Fidesz faction leader told state television MTV.The Fidesz call was echoed by the smaller Hungarian Democratic Forum, whose leader Ibolya David told MTV “the prime minister should abandon public life”.Gyurcsany, facing the biggest challenge in his two-year premiership, received backing from his Socialist Party to stay on and implement his economic policies.”The job of the institutions of the republic is now to strengthen people’s faith that calmness can be restored,” he told a news conference on Tuesday.Gyurcsany retains the support of coalition partner, the alliance of Free Democrats.The prime minister won April’s election partly on a promise of tax cuts.Nampa-ReutersThousands of people took to the streets of the capital Budapest late on Monday, attacking the state television building in clashes which left 150 injured.Higher taxes and fees for healthcare and university tuition had prompted protests before the release of the tape sparked the violent backlash.The protests came two weeks ahead of local elections on Oct.1 and follow a slump in the ruling Socialist Party’s popularity to 25 per cent in polls from 40 per cent at the election.Streets were calm yesterday and only about 50 protesters were left in front of the parliament building and police presence appeared light.Monday’s demonstration by around 10 000 people in front of parliament turned violent when some protesters stoned and set fire to the state television building, occupied part of it and looted it.Some 150 demonstrators and police were injured.The main Fidesz opposition urged the prime minister to go.”There is a moral crisis unfolding and Ferenc Gyurcsany should make it clear that his comments referred to their period in government,” Tibor Navracsics, opposition Fidesz faction leader told state television MTV.The Fidesz call was echoed by the smaller Hungarian Democratic Forum, whose leader Ibolya David told MTV “the prime minister should abandon public life”.Gyurcsany, facing the biggest challenge in his two-year premiership, received backing from his Socialist Party to stay on and implement his economic policies.”The job of the institutions of the republic is now to strengthen people’s faith that calmness can be restored,” he told a news conference on Tuesday.Gyurcsany retains the support of coalition partner, the alliance of Free Democrats.The prime minister won April’s election partly on a promise of tax cuts.Nampa-Reuters