HUNGARY: British Prime Minister Tony Blair visits Budapest and attends election rally for the Socialists and Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.

Record ID: 872630

  • Title: HUNGARY: British Prime Minister Tony Blair visits Budapest and attends election rally for the Socialists and Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
  • Date: 18th February 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE)(English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, SAYING: "I do apologise for not being able to speak Hungarian except for (attempts a word in Hungarian)" (APPLAUSE FROM AUDIENCE)
  • Embargoed: 5th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Hungary
  • City:
  • Country: Hungary
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9LLGTRA04Q628Q5SAL3KN9CXQ
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: British Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed Socialists supporters of incumbent Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurtsany during a visit to Hungary on Friday (February 17, 2006).
    Hungary votes in parliamentary elections on April 9 and 23.
    Blair told the audience Britain's decision to open its labour markets to foreign workers in the interests of the "true movement of workers" was positive.
    "My friends, I can tell you, we have allowed people from central and eastern European countries to come in. They have enriched our economy," he said.
    The British prime minister said it was best to meet the challenge of globalisation by opening up economies "and do so in a spirit of solidarity between countries within the European Union and outside."
    Blair paid tribute to the international tradition "in social democratic politics, in progressive politics."
    He said he was proud that as members of the European Union "we are espousing, not just the values of the commercial market, but the values of social solidarity across international frontiers."
    Blair said he was proud of the role Britain played "in the difficult areas of the world where our forces can be engaged or where our diplomats are engaged. But at every stage where we are saying that we care about people not just within our country but outside."
    Outside the conference venue anti-war demonstrators held a protest against Britain's policies in Iraq. One said he was protesting against "Violence, all kinds of violence, the terrorism, war." He added: "We can't accept Tony Blair as he says he is a counter terrorist and he goes to Iraq and Iran for oil."
    Hungary's main opposition right-of-centre Fidesz party has retained its narrow lead over the ruling Socialists in the run-up to elections in April, a poll by Median showed on Thursday (February 16).
    Median put Fidesz support at 34 percent, compared to 31 percent for MSZP Socialists in a poll taken from February 3-7.
    In a January 6-17 poll, Fidesz received 33 percent compared to 30 percent for MSZP.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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