Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party and its Christian Democrat ally are withdrawing their bill which sought to ease rules on obtaining citizenship ethnic Hungarians resident abroad, Christian Democrat MP Istvan Simicsko told MTI on Friday.

Simicsko explained the withdrawal, claiming the ruling Socialists were "playing for time".

Under the bill, ethnic Hungarian applicants for citizenship would not have been required to live permanently in Hungary but would have still been required to have at least one ancestor who was a Hungarian citizen and prove their knowledge of the Hungarian language.

"The Socialists wanted to see further guarantees, then announced that they cannot accept the bill in its current form," Simicsko said.

The Socialists were prepared to back the bill with two provisions. First, only Hungarians resident in the country should have the right to vote. Second, only Hungarian taxpayers should have access to social services.

Fidesz said earlier that it would introduce dual citizenship for Hungarian minorities living abroad if it wins general elections in 2010.

At the initiative of the World Federation of Hungarians and supported by Fidesz, a referendum was held on the issue in Hungary in 2004, but it was rendered invalid due to poor turnout.