BUDAPEST, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Five new Hungarian ministers took the oath of office on Monday, at the beginning of the first session of parliament with the Socialist Party (MSZP) governing as a minority, Hungarian news agency MTI reported.

    The new appointments follow Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's announcement of a major government reshuffle on April 28.

    Erika Szucs, vice-president of the ruling Socialist MSZP party's steering committee, was sworn in as minister of social affairs and labor, while Pal Szabo became minister of economics and transport.

    Imre Szabo, an MSZP county chair, became environment and water affairs minister, and Tamas Szekely assumed the post of health minister.

    Karoly Molnar, rector of Budapest Technical University, became minister without portfolio in charge of scientific policy, research and development, and technological innovation.

    Earlier in the day, Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom handed over appointment papers to the five new ministers and three state secretaries at a ceremony held in his office.