A RECENT anecdote suggested that top state posts are still subject to a political division of power rather than being based on objective criteria.
PM Mikuláš Dzurinda last week mistakenly sent a mobile phone text message to the head of the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) that, according to a source quoted by the daily Pravda, said "something in the sense that you won't get anything else apart from the NBÚ (National Security Office)".
Coalition partners are currently in search of a new NBÚ chief after its former leader, Ján Mojžiš, was recalled in early October.
The message caused a major stir among coalition partners, especially after it turned out that the message was meant for Pavol Rusko, head of the ruling New Citizen's Alliance (ANO).
The revelation came in the midst of objections by Dzurinda's partners in the coalition, the SMK and Christian Democrats (KDH), that he had grown too close with ANO. It also revealed that top posts are still subject to political trade-offs, although many of the current ruling politicians have criticized such practices in the past.
Compiled by Spectator staff from press reports.
3. Nov 2003 at 0:00 | From press reports
