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Hungarian prime minister pushes plan to combat financial crisis

Other News Materials 18 October 2008 16:08 (UTC +04:00)

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany on Saturday called for a "national pact" to combat the effects of the ongoing financial crisis before a meeting of national leaders, reported dpa.

"Hungary is navigating in the middle of a storm in rough waters," Gyurcsany said at a meeting of past and present leaders and politicians.

Gyurcsany's plan seeks national consensus for a plan to bring Hungary into the eurozone, finance pensions in the future and reform the public finances.

Hungary, which joined the European Union in 2004, but has no planned date for taking on the euro as its currency, has been especially hard hit by the financial crisis.

Its currency, the forint, has taken heavy losses, and its money markets have suffered extreme turbulence.

Earlier this month, Gyurcsany proposed a half-year freeze on wages and pensions to help manage the crisis.

On Thursday, the European Central Bank extended a 5-billion-euro (6.7-billion-dollar) line of credit to the country.

Also on Saturday, Gyurcsany said he hoped to put together an aid package for small and mid-sized companies.

Opposition leaders attacked the proposed pact, saying it would put more burdens on Hungary's people.

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