RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
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RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol 2, No. 231, 2 December 1998

OPPOSITION WALKS OUT OF HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT. The
opposition Socialist Party (MSZP) and Alliance of Free
Democrats (SZDSZ) walked out of parliament on 1 December
after deputies of the coalition parties defeated a
measure to establish two committees that would
investigate the activities of the Tax Office and the
cabinet's appointment policies. SZDSZ parliamentary
leader Gabor Kuncze said the coalition's actions
contravened parliamentary regulations stating that the
parliament is obliged to set up such committees if 20
percent of parliamentary deputies back such a move.
Jozsef Szajer, the parliamentary leader of the ruling
Federation of Young Democrats-Hungarian Civic Party,
said the measure to establish the committees was voted
down because the coalition objected to the proposed
chairmen, Matyas Eorsi and Sandor Burany. MSZ

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RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
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RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol 2, No. 232, 3 December 1998

HUNGARIAN OPPOSITION WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FOR NATO DEAL.
Two Hungarian opposition parties has withdrawn support
for an amendment to the constitution that is necessary
for the country's armed forces to cooperate with NATO,
AFP reported on 2 December. The Socialist Party and the
Alliance of Free Democrats withdrew their support
because of the ruling coalition's failure to allow
committees to investigate government appointments (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 2 December 1998). Opposition support
for the amendment is needed for its passage. The
amendment would extend the government's authority in
sending the military abroad and in allowing troops from
other countries to be deployed on the country's
territory--both of which are considered necessary
activities for a NATO member. Socialist Party chairman
Laszlo Kovacs said his party continues to back full NATO
membership for Hungary but added that his party cannot
support the government if it refuses to cooperate with
the Socialists. PB

STOYANOV PRAISES ROMANIA FOR RATIFYING FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT... Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov said on
2 December that Romania has shown "exceptional
understanding" in ratifying Bulgaria's accord with the
Central European Free Trade Agreement, Bulgarian radio
reported. Stoyanov said Romania is the first country to
ratify the agreement even before Sofia has repaid its
debts to Bucharest. He said Poland and Hungary first
insisted the squaring of the money owed them before
approving Bulgaria's accession to CEFTA. PB

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               Copyright (c) 1998 RFE/RL, Inc.
                     All rights reserved.
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