The program of the Socialist minority government is to be drawn up along the lines of the previously announced “Work, Knowledge, Property” program and the health care reform by the end of this month, reports daily Népszabadság, a paper considered to be sympathetic to the Socialist Party. Prime Minister and Party Chairman Ferenc Gyurcsány is expected to detail his government program for the remaining two years on May 1.
Before that date, the Socialist Party will have to work out the details of its break-up with the Alliance of Free Democrats. The consequences of the split are not yet fully known, but Gyurcsány looks likely to offer the City of Budapest government, led by Liberal Mayor Gábor Demszky, certain conditions in exchange for his party’s support.
“The board of chairmen believes we should not split on the local government level, but this is mainly to serve the interests of those Socialist mayors who hold a majority only together with the Liberals,” an influential Socialist politician told the paper. “In Budapest, the situation is reversed, so the party can provide assurances that Gábor Demszky will receive our support in exchange for support from SZDSZ in certain parliamentary issues.”
