OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 237, 10 December 1996

NEW HUNGARIAN WELFARE MINISTER NOMINATED. Prime Minister Gyula Horn on 9
December nominated Mihaly Kokeny to be welfare minister, Hungarian media
reported. Kokeny's predecessor, Gyorgy Szabo, resigned in November
saying that funds allocated in the draft 1997 budget fell 11 billion
forints ($67 million) short of what was needed to maintain the country's
ailing health service. Kokeny, a high-ranking welfare ministry official,
said he would accept the current 1997 health spending plans and
expressed hope that the long overdue act on health care and social
insurance will soon be passed. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

NEW ROMANIAN CABINET ANNOUNCED. Designated Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea
announced his proposed cabinet and its governing program on 9 December,
Romanian media reported. The new government comprises 27 ministers and
state secretaries, all but one representing the three parties that form
the governing coalition. The minister of Labor and Social Protection,
Alexandru Athanasiu, is an independent. Most cabinet posts (18) went to
the Democratic Convention of Romania, including three out of the four
highest level ministerial posts: finance, reform and industry and trade.
The Social Democratic Union holds 6 posts, including foreign affairs,
while the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania has the Ministry of
Tourism and the Office for National Minorities. Parliamentary committee
hearings of cabinet members should start today. -- Zsolt Mato

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Sava Tatic