Budapest - The executive of Hungary's ruling Socialist Party (MSZP) Saturday nominated parliamentary faction leader Attila Mesterhazy as its candidate for the premiership in next year's general elections. The decision, taken unanimously, must now be approved at the MSZP congress in December.
Mesterhazy, 35, is regarded as representative of the party's younger generation. But given the MSZP's unpopularity after almost eight years in power, faces an uphill battle in the Spring 2010 elections, analysts say.
Amid economic policy disasters and various scandals, the MSZP has lost massive public support, so that it is now the opposition conservative-rightist Federation of Young Democrats (FIDESZ) which is widely expected to win the 2010 parliamentary vote.
Current premier Gordon Bajnai had previously ruled out his own candidacy for the 2010 elections. Bajnai took power just last April, succeeding Ferenc Gyurcsany who stepped down amid massive criticism.
