Socialists want Gyurcsány to step down as party leader

Several members of the Socialist caucus think that Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány should not be also the chairman of the party, writes conservative daily Magyar Nemzet. The paper learned that at the national party meeting to be held on March 29, a suggestion might be made for a special congress to elect new party officials.

Before that date, the Socialists will hold a national party vote between March 15 and 25 where members of the party are asked about their opinion on Gyurcsány’s “new politics.” MPs asked by the paper all expressed a negative opinion, while praising Chancellery Minister Péter Kiss and Speaker Katalin Szili, who are the most likely to replace Gyurcsány in one of his two posts.

A Socialist politician told the daily that there is an increasing need within the party for electing new officials and separating the post of PM and party leader as a consequence of the March 9 referendum. However, another influential Socialist thinks that it is more likely that a decision on Gyurcsány will not be made until the regular congress to be held one year from now.

Still another Socialist said that Gyurcsány’s position is weakening also because he refused to sack State Secretary Gábor Horn, a member of the SZDSZ, for making improper comments about Gyurcsány after the referendum, despite the opinion of the majority of Socialists that this should be done.