Gordon Bajnai
Prime Minister of Hungary
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 April 2009
President László Sólyom
Preceded by Ferenc Gyurcsány
Born 5 March 1968 (age 41)Szeged, Hungary
Political party Independent
Alma mater Budapest University of Economic Sciences (now Corvinus University of)
Occupation Entrepreneur
György Gordon Bajnai (pronounced [ˈgordon ˈbɒjnɒi] born 5 March 1968, Szeged) is the current Prime Minister of Hungary. In March 2009, following Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány’s announced resignation, Bajnai was nominated by the ruling MSZP party to become Hungary’s next prime minister.[1] Bajnai became prime minister when the parliament passed a constructive motion of no-confidence against Ferenc Gyurcsány on 14 April 2009.[
Studies and student politics
Bajnai was raised in Baja, Hungary. He graduated from the Budapest University of Economic Sciences (now Corvinus University) International Relations Department in 1991. For his public and professional activities he was rewarded Pro Universitate Award.
As József Debreczeni wrote in his book The new Prime Minister, Ferenc Gyurcsány remembered Bajnai from common football matches, having long evening discussions and drinking beer in the late 1980s. Bajnai was not a KISZ (Kommunista Ifjúsági Szövetség) leader, like Gyurcsány (who was Vice-President of the communist youth organization in 1989), but he was active in youth-politics. In 1987, Bajnai organized a boycott of the University of Economics' canteen, and was chairman of the Independent Student Division.[3]
Entrepreneurial career
After earning his master’s degree, Bajnai took a job at Creditum Financial Consulting Ltd (at the same time Ferenc Gyurcsány worked there as well). In 1993, he undertook an internship at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. Later he also worked for Eurocorp International Finance Ltd (again under the directorship of Ferenc Gyurcsány).
Between 1995 and 2000, Bajnai was the managing director of CA IB Securities Co., and was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (at the same time when András Simor, now head of National Bank of Hungary, was the head of the company). Bajnai was involved in the management of introducing several major companies to the stock exchange.
Between 2000 and 2005, he was CEO of Wallis Rt., an investment company. His duty was to restructure the company, make it more efficient and to manage its investments. Wallis group member companies were at that time Graboplast Rt., Rába Rt., Elender Rt., Index.hu, Wallis Ingatlan, Wallis Auto Holding, Danubius Radio, Café Advertistment. Among the more than 100 Wallis-owned company a poultry processing firm, Hajdu-Bet went bankrupt during 2003, against all efforts by its management and owners. Bajnai, who was not with Wallis when it bought Hajdu-Bet, gets regular false accusations for not being able to keep Hajdu-Bet alive. Many partners of Hajdu-Bet suffered serious losses during the time when poultry market collapsed in 2003, Wallis group itself lost 10 billion forints (over 40 million Euros). There are news circulating about possible related suicides linked to the bankruptcy among farmers.
In 2003, the National Association of Managers selected Bajnai as the “Young Manager of the Year”. In the same year, as the head of Wallis, he concluded the liquidation of a company called Hajdu-Bet, during which a great number of suppliers breeding geese suffered great losses. For several years Bajnai was strongly criticized for this.[4][5]
