OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 224, Part II, 19 November 1996

HUNGARIAN PREMIER REJECTS PROPOSAL TO STEP UP CONSULTATION WITH
COALITION PARTY . . . Gyula Horn on 18 November rejected a proposal by
the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) that he consult with the junior
coalition party before making major political decisions, Nepszabadsag
reported. Horn described the proposal as an attempt to curtail his
powers. The SZDSZ had suggested that both the Socialists and the Free
Democrats make proposals in personnel issues and consult with each other
before publicizing any important government-related decision. On several
occasions, the SZDSZ has complained that Horn is not adhering to the
spirit of the 1994 coalition pact. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

. . . AND REFUTES CLAIMS THAT CABINET RESHUFFLE IS IMMINENT. Horn also
denied media reports that he was planning a cabinet reshuffle early next
year. Magyar Hirlap quotes him as saying that his only concern is the
resignation earlier this month of Welfare Minister Gyorgy Szabo. Magda
Kovacs Kosa, executive vice president of the Socialist party, denied
that a "conspiracy" to bring about personnel changes is afoot. Senior
party officials, meeting informally last week, had concluded that there
was a need for a cabinet reshuffle. Among them were parliamentary
Speaker Zoltan Gal, Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs, Finance Minister
Peter Medgyessy, and former trade union head Sandor Nagy. -- Zsofia
Szilagyi

WHO WILL BE ROMANIA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER? Romanian media report that the
National Peasant Party-Christian Democratic (PNT-CD) will decide today
who will be Romania's new premier. The main candidates are Mayor of
Bucharest Victor Ciorbea and Senators Radu Vasile and Ulm Spineanu, both
of whom were elected to Romania's upper house on the PNT-CD ticket
earlier this month. Meanwhile, the opinion poll institute IRSOP says
that only about half of those who backed Petre Roman in the first round
of the 17 November presidential elections followed his advice to vote
for Emil Constantinescu in the second round. Supporters of the Hungarian
Democratic Federation of Romania, however, appear to have rallied behind
Constantinescu, while 3% of the Party of Social Democracy of Romania's
backers also voted for him. Final results of the 17 November ballot are
due today. -- Michael Shafir

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Jan Cleave

OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 226, 21 November 1996

HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT REOPENS DEBATE ON CONCEPT FOR NEW
CONSTITUTION. The
parliament has resumed the debate on the new constitution, Hungarian
media reported on 20 November. Its constitutional committee drew up a
new concept after the Socialist Party leadership rejected an earlier one
in June on the grounds it was "too liberal." The Socialists said at the
time that they wanted the new constitution to include references to
social rights, make "interest coordination" compulsory for governing
parties, and stipulate that the president be elected directly. Besides
including these provisions, the new concept puts an additional emphasis
on the interests of Hungarians living abroad and limits the president's
sphere of competence. The parliament is expected to vote on the concept
in December. The country's current constitution dates back to 1949,
although various amendments have been made since 1989. -- Zsofia
Szilagyi

HUNGARY'S "OILGATE COMMITTEE" CALLS ON CHAIRMAN TO RESIGN. Members of
the so-called oilgate committee investigating a corruption case linked
to the repayment of Russia's debt to Hungary have called on chairman
Ervin Demeter to resign, Hungarian media reported on 21 November. They
charge Demeter, a member of the opposition Hungarian Democratic Forum,
with breaking internal agreements. Those who oppose his chairmanship
come from the ruling coalition and the opposition Smallholders. The
committee will soon make public its final report on the case, which
involves former Industry and Trade Ministers Laszlo Pal and Imre Dunai
as well as a number of Socialist deputies. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Jan Cleave