HUNGARIAN SOCIALISTS LOOKING FOR THE CAUSES OF THEIR DEFEAT

The Hungarian Socialist Party will talk today about the causes of its defeat at the EP election and considers the possibility of an early election of officials at their congress.

Yesterday mainly László Kovács, chairman of MSZP was criticized but several leading Socialist politicians blamed the government for its long series of mistakes.

According to several Socialist politicians the election result can strengthen the positions of Ferenc Gyurcsány, Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs, and István Hiller, Minister of Culture while others point out that in the County of Győr-Moson-Sopron where Mr Gyurcsány has become chairman of MSZP the election defeat was even greater. Rumours say that after the election defeat Ron Werber, the Israeli campaign adviser of the party will be dismissed.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó