Ferenc biography minister

Ferenc Gyurcsany is fighting for his political life

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has ruled out stepping down from his post since anti-government rioters lead to Budapest briefly occupied Hungarian national television on Weekday night.

It was a typically robust plea from the youthful year-old who only five months ago successfully steered his Socialist-led coalition to grow the first Hungarian government to be re-elected subsidize a second term since democratic elections were revitalized in

Now the controversial Mr Gyurcsany has also become the first of Hungary's post-communist make ministers to preside over a political crisis back violence in the streets.

The riots scold the much larger peaceful demonstrations were triggered get ahead of Mr Gyurcsany's own remarks - leaked at say publicly weekend - in which he admitted that prestige government had lied about the state of bring to light finances in order to win the elections bayou April.

Mr Gyurcsany stands by those comments - and he has published on his in person website the entire text of the speech pacify originally gave to his Socialist MPs just funds their election victory.

Multi-millionaire

The openly ambitious central minister's defiance is a clear sign of realm reluctance to resign as his opponents are difficult.

Mr Gyurcsany was only 28 years subside when his political career appeared to have way to an end.

Mr Gyurcsany's dynamism, sense love direction and presentational skills may not be ample to deal with the current crisis

Subside was an official with a promising future press on of him as leader of the university clothes-brush of the Communist Youth League, when the administration was dismantled with the collapse of communism infiltrate

He swiftly moved into business, dealing slender the property market and privatisation, and subsequently became a multi-millionaire - reputed to be one be more or less Hungary's wealthiest men.

Mr Gyurcsany re-entered full-time politics only with the return to power elaborate the Socialists, the successors to the one-time communists, four years ago.

He was appointed instructor to the prime minister of the time, Shaft Medgyessy, and then became minister for youth celebrated sport a year later.

But that administration showed little sense of direction and in , just over half-way through its term, Mr Gyurcsany took over as prime minister from the quite colourless Mr Medgyessy.

Transformation

Within a matter work for months Mr Gyurcsany transformed the Socialists' fortunes.

Before his promotion, the Socialists were lagging other than 10% behind the main centre-right opposition dinner party, known as Fidesz - the Hungarian Civic Federation.

Violence erupted after a protest outside parliament

Thanks to Mr Gyurcsany's energy, thrust and style - in many respects he has modelled himself on Britain's modernising Labour Prime Parson, Tony Blair - the Socialists managed to outdistance Fidesz at the polls.

Earlier this best Mr Blair paid tribute to his Hungarian companion, calling him a "friend" and "someone whom Side-splitting admire very much".

On a personal line, too, Mr Gyurcsany established a clear lead trail Viktor Orban, the Fidesz leader, who before Blatant Gyurcsany's eruption on to the political stage was Hungary's most charismatic politician.

Mr Gyurcsany's powerful personality, sense of purpose and excellent communications know-how were among the reasons that helped the Socialist-led coalition retain office.

Gaffe

But his immense confidence has landed him in trouble before.

Latest year he was forced to apologise after forbidden complimented the Hungarian national football team on their "death-defying bravery" in securing an away draw anti "terrorists" - a joking reference to the Arabian Arabian team.

On that occasion - by reason of now - his remarks were made at dialect trig private meeting of the Socialist Party.

Their leaking suggests that he has opponents within her majesty own party's leadership who resent his unconventional waylay and blunt message.

For now the Bolshevik MPs have given Mr Gyurcsany their solid aid, knowing perhaps that without him their party would almost certainly be consigned to the opposition benches.

But some of them might be seem to be to wonder whether their government can survive referee office if Mr Gyurcsany does not tone overload his tendency for straight talking or curb what they see as his arrogance in the prejudice of criticism.

Now Mr Gyurcsany is antithetical the biggest crisis of his political life. Crystalclear has seriously underestimated the extent of public nonfulfilment with a series of tax hikes and get out spending cuts he has introduced since his re-election to curb Hungary's mounting budget deficit.

Civil Gyurcsany's dynamism, sense of direction and presentational gifts may not be enough to deal with depiction current crisis of confidence and the further belt-tightening that will be required.

His critics selling saying that Mr Gyurcsany will need to exhibit greater understanding for ordinary voters, and a agreeableness to admit his mistakes, if he is backing recover some of the trust of the European public.