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THERE IS ALSO SOME FIERCE BARGAINING ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE PRESIDENT (IT IS GENERALLY ASSUMED THE LAW WILL BE CHANGED FROM A POPULAR TO A PARLIAMENTARY CHOICE). ARPAD GONCZ, A WRITER, IMPRISONED AFTER '56 AND A FREE DEMOCRAT SUPPORTER, IS BEING MENTIONED AS ACCEPTABLE TO MOST SIDES.
4. ANTALL JUSTIFIES HIS DELAY BY SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE UNCONSTIT- UTIONAL TO NAME A CABINET UNTIL HE IS INVITED TO FORM A GOVERNMENT WHEN THE NEW PARLIAMENT MEETS ON 2 MAY. HE THINKS IT WILL THEN BE AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE HE IS READY TO TAKE OFFICE. ALL THIS LEADS TO CHARGES OF INDECISION, INEXPERIENCE AND LACK OF TALENT. THE OPPOSITION FREE DEMOCRATS CLAIM THAT ANTALL IS DESPERATELY TRYING TO CONCOCT A PROGRAMME BEFORE FACING THE COUNTRY. THERE IS SOME TRUTH IN ALL THESE CHARGES THOUGH IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT AFTER 40 YEARS OF ONE PARTY RULE THE DEMOCRATIC FORUM IS INEXPERIENCED.
5. WHEN I SAW PRIME MINISTER NEMETH ON 20 APRIL I ASKED HIM WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HE WOULD BEQUEATH TO ANTALL, EXPECTING HIM TO SAY THE ECONOMY. INSTEAD HE SAID THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS
COLLAPSING BY THE DAY.
32 STATE SECRETARIES AND DEPUTY MINISTERS HAD RESIGNED IN THE PAST WEEK. THEY WERE ALL GOOD MEN, TECHNOCRATS, NOT PARTY PLACEMEN. BUT THEY WERE UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE FUTURE AND WESTERN FIRMS WERE FLASHING THEIR CHEQUE BOOKS. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS RELATIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION. NEMETH HAD CHIDED ANTALL FOR HIS ANTI-SOVIET ELECTION POSTER ''COMRADES, THE END''. ONE DAY SOON ANTALL WOULD HAVE TO GO TO MOSCOW AND HE WOULD FIND THE POSTER HAD BEEN LESS APPEALING IN THE KREMLIN THAN WITH THE HUNGARIAN ELECTORATE.
6. THE PICTURE, THEREFORE, IS NOT VERY ENCOURAGING. THE FIRST STEP TO DEMOCRACY FREE ELECTIONS, WORKED WELL AND THE ELECTORATE SHOWED WISDOM IN CUTTING DOWN THE CONTENDERS TO 2 MAIN PARTIES. BUT THE DEMOCRATIC FORUM SEEM TO BE MAKING HEAVY WEATHER OF THE TRANSITION FROM OPPOSTITION TO GOVERNMENT AND THERE IS A SENSE OF DRIFT AND UNCERTAINTY. THE WEAKENING OF THE ADMINISTRATION IS SERIOUS. BUT ANTALL MAY BE WISE TO PICK HIS TEAM WITH CARE INSTEAD OF
RUSHING ONTO THE FIELD.
7. A PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCE FOR US IS THAT THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES VISIT (7-10 MAY) FALLS IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS POLITIKING AND IT WILL BE A TASK TO STEER THEM BETWEEN OLD AND NEW.
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