The Socialist Party held its first election-drive event in front of the Gellért Hotel on Szent Gellért tér, Budapest's 11th District yesterday.

Prime ministerial candidate Attila Mesterházy, party chairwoman Ildikó Lendvai, Budapest chapter head Sándor Burány, his deputy Zsolt Molnár, 11th District mayor Gyula Horváth and government commissioner Csaba Horváth were all present.

They presented the party's past achievements in the capital, as well a booklet on their Budapest agenda. "We are facing two paths, and the Socialists offer an open, European and free country," Lendvai said. "It is possible to conduct politics on the streets without being vulgar," she added.

Mesterházy was late, having been tied up in negotiations with unions.

The Socialists also drew up a preliminary party election list, which will be finalised on Friday. The list is headed by Mesterházy, followed by Lendvai and former EU commissioner László Kovács. The next positions will be filled by Katalin Szili, Imre Szekeres, Péter Kiss, Mónika Lamperth, Gábor Simon, Ferenc Gyurcsány and István Újhelyi.