Hungarian ruling party elects Bajnai as PM candidate

BUDAPEST, April 5 -- Hungary's ruling Socialist Party on Sunday

elected Economy Minister Gordon Bajnai as the party's candidate for prime

minister, outgoing Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said.

Bajnai pledged every effort to pull Hungary out of the current crisis. "My

aim is to steer Hungary out of the crisis, protect jobs and families, and

stabilize the Hungarian economy," he said.

Hungarians have to make their choice of losing their jobs or temporarily

losing a few percent of their income, he said.

Bajnai, a former businessman, was minister for local governments and

regional development between 2007 and 2008. He was appointed economy minister

when the Socialist-Liberal coalition broke up last year.

Gyurcsany last month initiated a constructive no-confidence motion against

himself in parliament and proposed nominating a new prime minister to head a new

government. He resigned as party chairman on March 28.

The party's extraordinary congress elected parliamentary group leader

Ildiko Lendvai as new party chair.