TRADE UNION LEADERS ON SOCIALIST LIST

Active and former treade union leaders will be on the election lists of the Hungarian Socialist Party, Magyar Nemzet has been informed from Socialist sources.

There will be on the list László Kordás, former vice chairman of the National Association of Hungarian Trade Unions (MSZOSZ), at present the political state secretary of the Ministry of Labour, József Sáling, chairman of the Trade Union of Employees in Commerce, and Ferenc Rabi, chairman of the Miners’ Trade Union. It is still uncertain if their position on the list will bring them a seat in parliament or not as the list is ’very tense’, as one of the sources put it. The final decision is in the hands of Premier Gyurcsány. During the Horn government several trade union leaders became MPs who even supported the so-called Bokros package of severe restrictions. The former Premier, Péter Medgyessy’s promises to trade unions proved to be false still the confederation of trade unions has accepted the offer of Socialist Party chief István Hiller for a cooperation again.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó