Gyurcsány, Ferenc

Gyurcsány, Ferenc (fĕ`rĕnts dyr`chänyə), 1961–, Hungarian politician and investment executive, b. Pápa. Educated as a teacher and economist, he was president (1988–89) of Hungary's Communist Youth Alliance, but following the collapse of the Communist government he became (1990) a financial consultant—and a millionaire as a result of privatization deals. A senior adviser (2002–3) to Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy, he became minister of children, youth, and sports (2003–4) in the Socialist-led coalition government. When Medgyessy was ousted following several divisive ministerial dismissals, Gyurcsány was chosen as his successor. A blunt, sometimes confrontational speaker, he led the Socialist coalition to victory in 2006, but then sparked outrage among many Hungarians when, on a leaked tape of a party conference speech in which he called for reforms, he said that the Socialists had lied to get reelected.