Jozsef Graf: "I don't have a faction"

The minister for agriculture and regional development still does not want to be prime minister. He thinks a minority government can work. Food prices can be brought under control by increasing production, but he is prepared to "negotiate" about a Fidesz proposal to cut VAT on food.

© Szilvia Marton

hvg.hu: Since the Free Democrats left the government, you have often been mentioned as a potential prime minister. You have always rejected these suggestions, but never unambiguously. Might you be prime minister or not?

József Gráf: I have always been an agriculture specialist. It's a field I understand, and that's why I was prepared to accept the ministerial post. I know that I had the professional skills for the job. That's not enough on its own, so I had some doubts when I took on the post. But no agriculture minister has served as long as this in Hungary. I've been a minister for three years, so it would seem that I'm doing ok both professionally and politically. To return to your question:

I've never dealt with healthcare or educational or energy policy, so with the day-to-day tasks of a prime minister. And I know how much work being agriculture minister is: sometimes I work both days of every weekend for three or four months in a row, accepting invitations to agricultural shows.

I'm not complaining - but I have my doubts about whether I could rise to the challenge of being prime minister. And I'd add that the uncertainty of March and April is now in the past. The minority government seems to be working. The real test of its effectiveness will be if we can get the tax laws and the budget passed. I don't see any reason for the Hungarian Socialist Party to consider changing prime ministers. Given the state of the budget and the results of the convergence programme, I see a good chance of the budget being passed.

Admittedly, I wasn't pleased with the coalition's breakdown. I thought we should continue governing with the Free Democrats, making the necessary compromises. That's not what happened. But it's important to keep on cooperating with them.

hvg.hu: Would it be good if the Free Democrats returned to the coalition? At the price of a new prime minister, perhaps?

J.G.: That's not politically realistic. Cooperation from outside the coalition seems like the only realistic path, and I think both sides are willing to do this.

hvg.hu: You didn't say: "No, I won't be prime minister."

J.G.: I've said before that there is no never in politics. My task is to support the government and the prime minister in consolidating the situation. I think it's 99.9 per cent certain that I won't be prime minister. I don't want to be and I'm not going to make any efforts to get there.

hvg.hu: Isn't there a Graf group inside the Socialist Party?

J.G.: There isn't. There are several kinds of groups within the party, but I don't have a single person behind me with the task of strengthening my position.