LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring and welcoming The Honorable Gordon
Bajnai, Prime Minister of Hungary, upon the occasion of his visit to New
York

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the people of the State of
New York, is moved to honor The Honorable Gordon Bajnai, Prime Minister
of the Republic of Hungary, upon the occasion of his visit to New York;
and
WHEREAS, Gordon Bajnai was born in Szeged in Southern Hungary in 1968
and was raised in Baja; in 1991, he earned a degree in International
Relations from the Corvinus University of Budapest, formerly known as
the Karl Marx University of Economic Sciences; and
WHEREAS, He was actively involved in youth politics at the University
where he served as Chairman of the Independent Student Division and led
a successful student strike to protest the quality and service at the
University's dining hall; also, he and future Prime Minister Ferenc
Gyurcsany founded the short-lived New Generation youth association at
the University; and
WHEREAS, After graduation in 1991 until 1993, Gordon Bajnai worked for
Creditum, a financial consulting company, before receiving professional
training at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
in London in 1993, after which he worked at EuroCorp International
Finance PLC as a consultant; and
WHEREAS, From 1995-2000, he served CA IB Securities PLC as Managing
Director, Director of Corporate Finance and Equity Capital Markets and
Vice CEO; from 2000-2005, he was the CEO of Wallis PLC and was then
named Chairman of the Board of Directors of Budapest Airport PLC; and
WHEREAS, In July 2006, at the invitation of his friend from University
days, Ferenc Gyurcsany, who was serving his second term as Prime Minis-
ter of Hungary, Gordon Bajnai took over the leadership of the Hungarian
National Development Agency; in 2007, he was named Minister of Local
Government and Regional Development and then went on, in 2008, to serve
as Minister for National Development and Economy; and
WHEREAS, On April 14, 2009, Gordon Bajnai was elected the seventh
Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary, nominated by and succeeding
his friend and colleague, former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, who,
reflecting the global economic crisis, had resigned following an econom-
ic crisis in his own beloved nation and the lack of parliamentary
support for his economic plans; and
WHEREAS, Forty-two year old Gordon Bajnai will serve until the next
parliamentary elections; described as a non-partisan technocrat, Gordon
Bajnai has vast experience and expertise and is to be commended and
justly admired for taking on the difficult task of helping to lead his
country during a time of economic and financial crisis being experienced
around the world; and
WHEREAS, Throughout history and to this day, Hungary and people of
Hungarian descent in New York State and around the world have contrib-
uted significantly to all aspects of society, greatly adding to the
quality and character of life; it is the sense of this Legislative Body
to recognize and pay just tribute to the cultural heritage and represen-
tatives of the ethnic groups which comprise and contribute to the rich-
ness and diversity of the community of the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
extend its hand in friendship, honoring and welcoming The Honorable
Gordon Bajnai, Prime Minister of Hungary, upon the occasion of his visit
to New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Gordon Bajnai.