1. In March 2009, following Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's announced resignation, Bajnai was nominated by the ruling Hungarian Socialist Party to become Hungary's next head of government.
33 Facts About Gordon Bajnai
1. 2.
Gordon Bajnai became prime minister when the parliament passed a constructive motion of no-confidence against Ferenc Gyurcsany on 14 April 2009.
3.
Gordon Bajnai held the office until the formation of the Second Orban Government following the 2010 parliamentary election.
4.
Thereafter, the Together movement transformed itself into party on 8 March 2013, and Gordon Bajnai had gradually marginalized in the upcoming months.
5.
Gordon Bajnai retired from politics after the 2014 parliamentary and European Parliament elections.
6.
Gordon Bajnai finished his secondary studies at the local Bela III High School in 1986.
7.
Gordon Bajnai graduated from the Budapest University of Economic Sciences International Relations Department in 1991.
8.
Gordon Bajnai was the head of the History Department of Studium Generale, Admission Preparatory Studies College.
9.
Between 1995 and 2000, Gordon Bajnai was the managing director of CA IB Securities Co.
10.
Gordon Bajnai's duty was to restructure the holding-company, make it more efficient and to manage its investments.
11.
Years later, when he started his political career, Gordon Bajnai was criticized for the Hajdu-Bet collapse, although he won all the lawsuits against media-outlets for false accusations.
12.
Gordon Bajnai resigned all of his company posts and board-memberships, when he entered the government as government commissioner, responsible for EU funds and national development.
13.
Gordon Bajnai became minister in July 2007, in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
14.
From October 2008, Gordon Bajnai's activities had mainly focused on managing the evolving crisis in the real economy in Hungary.
15.
Gordon Bajnai stated that he would remain in power until he had the solid majority of Parliament behind his austerity package, but will stay no longer than a year.
16.
Gordon Bajnai did not want to nominate himself on the next election; he undertook the task for only a year.
17.
Gordon Bajnai took over an economy that was expected to contract by 6 percent in 2009 and was kept afloat by a $25.1 billion IMF-led lifeline.
18.
Gordon Bajnai must have had to cut spending to rescue the budget, keep within IMF guidelines and regain investor confidence.
19.
Gordon Bajnai needed their votes but a sizeable section of the party viewed Bajnai with contempt because cuts in welfare spending was seen as eroding the party's traditional voter base.
20.
Gordon Bajnai's first visit abroad was in Brussels, where he debuted as Prime Minister.
21.
Gordon Bajnai had discussions with Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, President of the European Commission, and with Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Secretary-General of NATO.
22.
Gordon Bajnai made a two-day official visit to Israel, where he met Shimon Peres, Benjamin Netanyahu and the Opposition Leader, Tzipi Livni.
23.
Gordon Bajnai visited the Palestinian Authority, where he met the Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad.
24.
Gordon Bajnai attended talks with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown and gave a public lecture at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
25.
Hungary sent more troops to Afghanistan in line with then-current US strategy to enhance involvement there, Gordon Bajnai announced at a meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden in the White House on 4 December 2009.
26.
The pledge been made in several steps during 2010: Hungarian troops mainly serve in logistics and training operations, on top of helping to secure elections in Afghanistan, Gordon Bajnai told journalists after the talks.
27.
Gordon Bajnai announced his return to politics on 23 October 2012, during the anti-government demonstration of the One Million for Press Freedom.
28.
In December 2012, Gordon Bajnai announced his intention to be a parliamentarian candidate in the 2014 general election.
29.
Gordon Bajnai resigned from his parliamentary seat on 26 May 2014, and gradually withdrawn himself from domestic politics.
30.
From September 2014, Gordon Bajnai returned to his original profession when he was named Group Chief Operating Officer of the Paris-based Meridiam infrastructure, a leading global investment fund.
31.
Commentators on both the left and right political wing agreed that Gordon Bajnai was quitting politics with that step.
32.
Gordon Bajnai has four children: Zsofia, Andras, Agnes and Miklos.
33.
Gordon Bajnai has played soccer from early childhood; he is one of the players of Hungarian football club Epitok SK.