Hours ahead on Hungary PM saying he will step down amid economic crisis

Reuters was well ahead of other news providers on March 22 when Hungary’s prime minister said he was willing to step aside to ease the passage of economic reforms needed to tackle the financial crisis. The news sent the forint lower when markets reopened on Monday and drew a warning from credit ratings agency Fitch. Reuters clients got far more than the official pronouncements of the prime minister and other party leaders. Reuters provided an interview with the prime minister, in which he said Hungary’s economy may contract this year by more than the official forecast of 3.5 percent. There was also an interview with the leader of the party holding the balance of power, the Free Democrats, who made clear Hungary’s next PM must be a reformer with the trust of financial markets.