Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUDAPEST857
2009-12-02 11:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
RESIGNATION OF HUNGARIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND
how-toVZCZCXRO5132 PP RUEHIK DE RUEHUP #0857 3361145 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 021145Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4711 INFO RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000857
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE. PLEASE PASS TO JEFF
HOVENIER AT THE NSC.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV HU
SUBJECT: RESIGNATION OF HUNGARIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT
UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000857
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE. PLEASE PASS TO JEFF
HOVENIER AT THE NSC.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV HU
SUBJECT: RESIGNATION OF HUNGARIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT
1. (U) Tibor Draskovics, Minister of Justice and Law
enforcement, unexpectedly announced his resignation December
2. His resignation comes two days after the Parliament
passed the controversial 2010 budget (septel). Draskovics
stated that "we have successfully accomplished our
legislative work and other tasks related to the management of
the current financial crisis and the remaining few months
prior to the national elections will mostly be about party
politics rather than substantive work." (Comment.
Draskovics was referring to the upcoming national elections,
anticipated in April 2010. End comment.) Prime Minster
Gordon Bajnai, currently in Washington for Friday's meeting
with the Vice-President, through his spokesperson, expressed
regret but accepted the resignation.
2. (SBU) Comment. Draskovics' public statement outlining his
reasons for leaving are viewed as credible NOW that
Parliament passed the 2010 budget. Not a member of the
Socialist Party (MSZP),he had numerous disagreements with
the ruling MSZP parliamentary caucus when he was Finance
Minister in 2004-2005. As a technocrat and Cabinet Minister
rather than a politician, he clearly sees that he has no
place in the political theater after the 2010 elections. He
may also be the first of other government Ministers who
decide that NOW is the time to abandon the governing
Socialist Party ship in anticipation of MSZP's significant
defeat in the April 2010 elections. As he leaves the
Justice and Law Enforcement portfolio, we will be watching
closely to see if his resignation diminishes the government's
recent focus on racially-motivated criminal acts,
particularly against Roma in the countryside. End comment.
LEVINE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE. PLEASE PASS TO JEFF
HOVENIER AT THE NSC.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV HU
SUBJECT: RESIGNATION OF HUNGARIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT
1. (U) Tibor Draskovics, Minister of Justice and Law
enforcement, unexpectedly announced his resignation December
2. His resignation comes two days after the Parliament
passed the controversial 2010 budget (septel). Draskovics
stated that "we have successfully accomplished our
legislative work and other tasks related to the management of
the current financial crisis and the remaining few months
prior to the national elections will mostly be about party
politics rather than substantive work." (Comment.
Draskovics was referring to the upcoming national elections,
anticipated in April 2010. End comment.) Prime Minster
Gordon Bajnai, currently in Washington for Friday's meeting
with the Vice-President, through his spokesperson, expressed
regret but accepted the resignation.
2. (SBU) Comment. Draskovics' public statement outlining his
reasons for leaving are viewed as credible NOW that
Parliament passed the 2010 budget. Not a member of the
Socialist Party (MSZP),he had numerous disagreements with
the ruling MSZP parliamentary caucus when he was Finance
Minister in 2004-2005. As a technocrat and Cabinet Minister
rather than a politician, he clearly sees that he has no
place in the political theater after the 2010 elections. He
may also be the first of other government Ministers who
decide that NOW is the time to abandon the governing
Socialist Party ship in anticipation of MSZP's significant
defeat in the April 2010 elections. As he leaves the
Justice and Law Enforcement portfolio, we will be watching
closely to see if his resignation diminishes the government's
recent focus on racially-motivated criminal acts,
particularly against Roma in the countryside. End comment.
LEVINE