Hungary’s chances of overcoming its deep economic crisis depend largely on the speed of the recovery in Germany and across Europe rather than its own efforts, the country’s new prime minister has admitted to the Financial Times.

Rise to the premiership

Gordon Bajnai’s first contact with politics came in 1987 when he organised a boycott of the university canteen in protest at the poor quality of the fare, Thomas Escritt reports.

After graduating in economics, Mr Bajnai opted for a business career. An internship at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London was followed by a rapid rise through Hungary’s corporate hierarchy.

He has been friends with Ferenc Gyurcsány, his Socialist predecessor as prime minister for 20 years, and it was Mr Gyurcsány who brought the 41-year-old into politics, appointing him economics minister in 2008.

Mr Bajnai became prime minister last month after Mr Gyurcsány’s resignation.