RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
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RFE/RL NEWSLINE  4 August 1999

HUNGARIAN PARTY TO DEMAND SLOVAK GOVERNMENT RESHUFFLE.
The Presidium of Slovakia's Hungarian Coalition Party
(SMK) on 3 August demanded a reshuffle of the government
in the fall, CTK reported. The presidium said it is
dissatisfied with the cabinet's performance so far. SMK
chairman Bela Bugar told Slovak Television that the
coalition has a "negative reputation" owing to both the
unsatisfactory performance of some ministers and to
scandals surrounding top officials. He said he "cannot
rule out" that the SMK will demand the resignation of
Economy Minister Ludovit Cernak, Transport Minister
Gabriel Palacka, and Agriculture Minister Pavel Koncos.
Party of Civic Understanding chairman Pavol Hamzik, also
speaking to Slovak Television, said that his formation
is prepared to support the dismissal of "some
ministers." CTK reported that the Democratic Left Party
is ready to accept a reshuffle but not to "sacrifice"
its own ministers. MS

HUNGARY'S BALANCE-OF-PAYMENT DEFICIT GROWING.
Preliminary figures released by the Hungarian National
Bank show that the balance-of-payment deficit in the
first half of 1999 was $1.2 billion, compared with $905
million last June, Hungarian media report on 4 August.
Capital influx during the first six months was almost
$1.6 billion, and observers are optimistic that the
second half of the year will see a continuation of the
influx of foreign direct investment. MSZ

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