The ruling Socialists have decided to cancel the policy debates planned between senior ministry officials and experts of the main opposition Fidesz party, the party spokeswoman told MTI on Wednesday.

At the first of the three debates the Socialists initiated last week, Deputy Social Affairs Minister Lajos Korozs remained without a partner as no representative of Fidesz showed up on Tuesday to discuss social policy and welfare, said Bernadett Budai.

The next two debates scheduled originally to discuss agriculture today and economic policy on Thursday will therefore not be held, she said.

Fidesz on Sunday rejected a call by the Socialists' prime-minister candidate to take part in a broadcast debate on their respective campaign programmes.

Attila Mesterhazy had asked Viktor Orban, the Fidesz leader, and the party's top policymakers to take part in a debate on the contents of their programmes.

Fidesz spokesman Peter Szijjarto said at the time: "The unproductive debate with you has past its sell-by date."