~For Country Profile --- Hungary: July 25 DONE
Ferenc Gyurcsany: Prime Minister and long distance runner
At 44 years, Ferenc Gyurcsany is certainly one of the youngest prime ministers anywhere. But do not be mislead: A tender age in politics is not necessarily a sign of inexperience.
Like many of the top politicians in the new democracies of Europe, he has arrived into politics from business, where he proved himself to be an architect of his own success. His exploits in real estate, financial and IT business directed the spotlight on this entrepreneurial minded father of four and dedicated long distance runner even before he entered the fray of big politics.
Invited to be the advisor to the prime minister, he soon proved himself worthy of a government portfolio. Becoming Minister of Youth and Sports was not a simple challenge in Hungary, a country with negative demographic growth and a nation where sports figure as an integral part of life - and politics. Hungarian sports traditionally provided a constant high yield of Olympic and world record holders, and consecutive governments made a point of contributing heavily in order to keep up the flow.
With good reason: The national psyche of the Hungarian, or as they call themselves, the Magyar people, is proverbially bent on proving themselves to the world through competitiveness.
Responsibility for youth, on the other hand, was a chore a young man was deemed convenient to handle, and the current PM did his utmost to prove worthy of his job. Thus, when former PM Peter Medgyessy quit his position in August, 2004, the Socialist Party, the major partner in Hungary's ruling two party coalition, turned to the young and energetic minister with the hands-on reputation he earned himself in business life: Would he take the job? Gyurcsany did not hesitate. He was elected by Parliament to the top executive post of Hungary on the 29th of September, 2004.
Taking charge of a country in the whirlwind of dynamic changes that Hungary experiences today is no small challenge - and this makes the Prime Minister's job one that needs speedy decisions and swift execution.
No wonder, Prime Minister Gyurcsany picked his team from people capable of keeping up with his long-distance runner's tempo. His Minister of Economy and Transport, Dr. Janos Kska, an IT guru fittingly put in charge of an economy that needs to prove it's up to the standards of EU efficiency, is 33... just fresh in his job, he can however boast an FDI inflow beyond his expectations - worth US$3.3 billion in less than a year for a country of just 10 million inhabitants.
The Prime Minister is aware that Hungary's reputation for stability, a hard working and highly educated workforce and a very friendly business environment are the magnets for FDI. And an increased flow of FDI is a must indeed. Hungary embarked on making high value added industries and IT the cutting edge of her economy, and Prime Minister Gyurcsany is always keen to point out how improved capital inflow and knowledge based society combined can produce economic success.
Improving these qualities is a long term commitment that is expected to help Hungary attain her goal of faster growth. Success in fully utilizing funds the European Union - where Hungary is a member since May 2004 - offers for structural development is an other major expectation. Hungary is in the midst of an ambitious plan of infrastructure expansion that can substantiate her ambition to become a major logistic hub in her area.
With both his hands full, and facing a busy international agenda, the Prime Minister can, beyond a dynamic government, rely on a trusted companion: his spouse Klara Dobrev, a lady of great personal charm and a rich experience in business and public life. In the difficult decisions he has to make, Ferenc Gyurcsany can consult her better half - but the ultimate responsibility for the fate of ten million Hungarians lies solely with him. This is the long distance runner's loneliness...
Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is currently on a trip of SE Asia also taking him to Singapore and Vietnam. His visit comes in the context of Hungary's more pronounced Asia strategy, a political and economic initiative meant to create closer links between this dynamically growing country of Central Europe and her Asian partners halfway across the globe.
Beyond his meetings with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, speakers of People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Representative Council(DPD) and prominent government ministers, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany meets Sultan Hamengku Buwono X in Jogjakarta and visits Aceh on the last day of his three-day program in Indonesia. His visit to Nusantara comes on the 50th Anniversary of relations between the two countries.