The Socialist party wants to nominate Gordon Bajnai as its candidate for prime minister in the spring 2010 elections, the party’s leader Ildiko Lendvai said in an interview to Monday’s Nepszabadsag.
It would be “evidence of the Socialist Party’s incapacity” if it did not include its incumbent premier among its nominees, she said.
Bajnai, who is not a member of the Socialist party, ruled out running in the 2010 elections when he took up office, pledging to lead the crisis-management government for a year only.
The minority governing Socialist party is way behind in the polls though it has recovered slightly under Bajnai’s command.
On other matters, Lendvai said her party would not tolerate officials who grab public funds and line their own pockets. Noting recent scandals in which officials of state companies had received staggering severance payments, Lendvai said that a cap must be applied to their salaries and benefits.
“It would be shameful if we did not put our foot down and pass the necessary legislation,” she added.
