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Hungary PM wins confidence vote Hungary PM wins confidence vote
(about 3 hours later)
Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has won a confidence vote in parliament amid a continuing row over his admission that he lied to voters.Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has won a confidence vote in parliament amid a continuing row over his admission that he lied to voters.
Earlier on Friday he apologised again for lying about the state of the economy to win the election last April. The prime minister secured the backing of 207 MPs, with 165 voting against.
The ruling Socialist Party and their Free Democrat allies have 210 MPs in the 386-seat parliament. Earlier on Friday he apologised for his conduct, after admitting lying to voters in April's election campaign.
Mr Gyurcsany vowed to stick to his austerity programme, saying he would not bow to opposition "blackmail". But the political uncertainty looked set to continue, with as many as 50,000 people gathering in front of parliament to demand that Mr Gyurcsany quit.
The opposition called street protests to coincide with the vote. The demonstrators, including families with children, many waving the Hungarian flag, were summoned by opposition leader Viktor Orban, who has vowed to unseat the prime minister.
We avoided facing up to reality, we lacked courage and we tried to bypass the most honest, simplest answers Ferenc GyurcsanyWe avoided facing up to reality, we lacked courage and we tried to bypass the most honest, simplest answers Ferenc Gyurcsany
Farmers also blocked roads in parts of the countryside in protest at the government's agricultural policies.
Dodging realityDodging reality
The prime minister began a day of debate in parliament by expressing what amounted to a mea culpa, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest. Mr Gyurcsany began a day of debate in parliament by expressing what amounted to a mea culpa, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest.
Mr Gyurcsany apologised for not facing up to economic realities at the general election. He apologised for not facing up to economic realities at the general election.
He and his government campaigned on tax cuts but promptly put taxes up after being voted in, in an effort to reduce a budget deficit that had ballooned to 10% - the biggest in the EU.He and his government campaigned on tax cuts but promptly put taxes up after being voted in, in an effort to reduce a budget deficit that had ballooned to 10% - the biggest in the EU.
Hungarian farmers protested by blocking roads outside Budapest
"We avoided facing up to reality, we lacked courage and we tried to bypass the most honest, simplest answers. If an apology is needed for anything, then it is for this. I apologise," the prime minister said."We avoided facing up to reality, we lacked courage and we tried to bypass the most honest, simplest answers. If an apology is needed for anything, then it is for this. I apologise," the prime minister said.
But then he went on the offensive, sharply rebuking the main conservative opposition party, Fidesz, and its leader, Viktor Orban, for what he called threats and blackmail, and attempting to demolish the government's economic programme. But Mr Gyurcsany vowed to stick to his austerity programme.
'Wake-up' call Then he went on the offensive, sharply rebuking the main conservative opposition party, Fidesz, and its leader, Mr Orban, for what he called threats and "blackmail", and ridiculing the opposition's economic programme.
Mr Orban said on Thursday he would use all legitimate democratic means to oust the prime minister.Mr Orban said on Thursday he would use all legitimate democratic means to oust the prime minister.
Orban says protests will go on until Gyurcsany is ousted
Mr Orban called on protesters to gather in Budapest on Friday, with alarm clocks to "wake up" the coalition, as well as the national flag and candles.
Farmers were also reported to have blocked roads in parts of the countryside in protest at the government's agricultural policies.
"The Socialists... have entrapped the country and want to sacrifice the country for a lying politician," Mr Orban said. "All constitutional, democratic and parliamentary means must be used to oust Ferenc Gyurcsany.""The Socialists... have entrapped the country and want to sacrifice the country for a lying politician," Mr Orban said. "All constitutional, democratic and parliamentary means must be used to oust Ferenc Gyurcsany."