BUDAPEST, Aug 25 (AFP) - Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy resigned Wednesday, pre-empting a move by his ruling Socialist party to oust him in a no-confidence vote in parliament next month.
"I will not bow before the putchists, therefore I have in accordance with constitutional protocol handed in my resignation to the president of the republic," Medgyessy told a press conference.
His fate had been sealed last week when the premier, who led Hungary into the European Union on May 1, offered to quit following a controversial cabinet reshuffle and the party said it would accept his resignation.
Medgyessy, who had kept the country in suspense for days as to whether he would quit or allow himself to be voted out, said he had chosen the route that would make for the most political stability.
"I have taken this decision in order to allow the ministers, the government to keep their heads high, because for the sake of the whole government, it is necessary to preserve the dignity of the cabinet," he said.
"This way, we can assure a smooth, civilised and predictable transfer of power."
His resignation as Socialist party members held an extraordinary conference where they were expected to nominate a successor within hours.
"This is only a legal technicality which does not change the fact that the country will have a new prime minister," said Ildigo Lendveai, the Socialists` parliamentary leader.
He conceded that by resigning Medgyessy had given Madl the power to appoint a successor rather than the governing party.
Nevertheless, the president is widely expected to honour the preference of the Socialists, who were to choose between business tycoon Ferenc Gyurcsany or party insider Peter Kiss.