Profile: Three key parties

BUDAPEST, Hungary (Reuters) -- Hungarians vote in a closely-contested election this weekend. The options available to them include:

FIDESZ/DEMOCRATIC FORUM (Leader: Viktor Orban)

Founded by Budapest students in 1988 as a radical liberal party, Fidesz won 22 seats in the first post-communist vote in 1990.

Its leaders then shed a denim-and-stubble image for a more conservative look, but won only 20 seats in 1994.

After a revamp to position the party as the main centre-right force, it won the 1998 elections promising radical tax and social security cuts, strong economic growth and free higher education.

Since 1998, its junior coalition allies have lost popularity and Fidesz has effectively swallowed the Democratic Forum (MDF).

The party has a slick public relations operation but its populist and nationalist rhetoric, partly to woo far-right voters, has been criticised for dividing the country.

SOCIALISTS (PM candidate: Peter Medgyessy)

Formed from the ashes of the Socialist Workers' Party, which dominated the communist era, the party was humiliated at 1990 elections but, like other ex-communists in the old Soviet bloc, it bounced back in 1994, winning an absolute majority and choosing to rule with the liberal Free Democrats under Prime Minister Gyula Horn.

It stabilised the financial system, saw through the bulk of privatisation and began reforming the pension system.

But, riddled with coalition disputes and privatisation scandals, it was ousted in 1998 by Fidesz.

Putting forward Peter Medgyessy, who is not a party member, as its candidate for prime minister, the Socialists have pledged a return to a more open and caring government which will keep EU talks on track, maintain economic growth and bridge the gap between the well-off and the poor who have missed out on the economic boom.

The party is still reforming itself along the lines of the West European social democratic model.

FREE DEMOCRATS (SZDSZ) (Leader: Gabor Kuncze)

A liberal party set up by dissident intellectuals, the SZDSZ won 24 percent of the vote in 1990.

Four years later, hit by internal rows, the defection of key ideologues and a pro-Semitic image, its support had dipped but it took power in coalition with the Socialists.

In 1998, it polled just 7 percent of the vote. The SZDSZ surprised pundits in the first round, holding off a challenge from the newly-formed Centrum Party to consolidate its position as the third-biggest force.

It is likely to push for some key government ministries within a new centre-left coalition.