Budapest - Former Hungarian finance minister Lajos Bokros said Saturday that he was not prepared to accept the job of Hungarian prime minister.

"I am insulted by the notion that I would lend my reputation and credibility to a programme in whose success I have no faith," Bokros said

The economics professor was speaking at the opening of the European Parliament election campaign of the Hungarian Democratic Forum, a minor conservative opposition party for which he is standing.

Budapest - Hungary's Socialist Party was divided in two on Friday evening over the nomination of Finance Minister Lajos Bokros for prime minister, the state news agency MTI reported.

Bokros is backed by one faction of the party while the other prefers Electrolux Hungary boss Janos Takacs, nominated by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany in the morning.

The liberal Free Democrats, whose support the minority Socialist government needs, said Bokros was the only candidate acceptable to them.

Budapest - Hungary's Socialist Party leadership met Friday to discuss the possibility of backing former finance minister Lajos Bokros as the leader of an interim government.

The meeting was called after the liberal Free Democrat party rejected Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's nomination of Electrolux Hungary boss Janos Takacs as his replacement, the daily newspaper Nepszabadsag reported.