Posted on 09/28/2006 11:26:15 AM PDT by lizol
Hungary PM says sorry for lies
September 27, 2006 - 8:00PM Source: ABC
Hungary's Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany apologised on Wednesday for the tone of a leaked speech in which he admitted lying about the parlous state of the economy to win April's election.
The leak of the profanity-littered tape triggered violent protests this month and calls for the government of Socialists and Free Democrats to quit.
On the tape, Mr Gyurcsany said in May that "we lied in the morning, we lied in the evening".
"Of course I am sorry.... these were the words of reproof, affection and passion," Mr Gyurcsany told a press conference today.
Mr Gyurcsany said he recognised he had lost the people's trust and it would take a long time to regain their confidence, but he insisted plans to cut the Budget deficit - which is running at 10.1 per cent of gross domestic product - must be implemented.
Since winning the election, the Government has reversed tack on economic policy and introduced hefty tax rises and subsidy cuts to rein in the biggest deficit in the European Union.
"I did not believe that voters would understand ... In a sense I did not believe in myself either, that I would be able to tell all this," he said.
As a result of the measures, government popularity has plunged to 25 per cent from around 40 per cent in April and it faces a key test in Sunday's local elections.
The main opposition Fidesz party is portraying these as a referendum on the tax rises and subsidy cuts.
Who wrote his speech, slick willie, He's probably going to go on an around the world apology tour next.
He's "sorry" alright.
Surprised he didn't come out as a "Gay Hungarian" to deflect attention away.
At the same time, Bill Clinton blames the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy for his lies.
This web-site has the pictures of the uprising:
http://index.hu/politika/belfold/2006/elkurtuk/galeriak/?main&rnd=971
... and this one is for those, who speak hungarian. Cuts from the speech of the communist president.
Gyurcsany - Elkúrtuk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgzM8rP9b-I&mode=related&search=
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