Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany on Sunday rejected calls from President Laszlo Solyom and opposition leaders that demanded his resignation after big losses of his Socialist Party in local elections.

"We are continuing with our policies as am I personally," Gyurcsany told a press confidence, refusing to step down.

According to the preliminary results released by the National Election Office, with about 88 percent of the votes counted, the opposition Fidesz- Hungarian Civic Union was poised to win the mayorships in at least 15 of the country's 23 largest cities and 18 of the 19 counties.

The office said the nearly definitive results were expected on Monday afternoon.

Shortly after the close of polls, Solyom criticized Gyurcsany for using "impermissible means" to keep his power, referring to Gyurcsany's taped comments to a Socialist Party meeting which leaked out two weeks ago and triggered strong street protests.

In the tape, the prime minister admitted he had repeatedly lied to the country about the economy.

Gyurcsany "undermines confidence in democracy," Solyom told the public television, calling on the parliament to take measures to "restore the required social confidence."

Solyom's remarks were cheered by a crowd of protesters outside the parliament on Sunday night, who demanded Gyurcsany to step down.

Opposition leader Viktor Orban described the election results as a big victory, saying the voters "tonight have replaced the prime minister in office."

"We call on the Socialist Party to refrain from going against the will of the people and to carry out the voters' decision," he said.

As of early Monday, there was no sign of further anti-government unrest flaring, but the security forces remained on alert.

Source: Xinhua