public finances
February 24, 2010, 10:30 CET
So who does János Veres need to better explain himself to, the taxpayers or his wife?
The million forint question that's been going around Hungarian political circles since this past weekend is "what was János Veres doing in East Asia with a female colleague"? The question was first raised after a reader of tabloid Blikk... [read complete entry]
February 16, 2010, 09:23 CET
MSZP: All your pensioners are belong to us
How's this for a campaign ad (from subway handout Metropol) that is desperate, condescending and creepy all at the same time? For the Hungarian-challenged, it basically says that pensioners have no choice but to vote for the Socialists, because... [read complete entry]
February 02, 2010, 09:36 CET
MDF calls for "price tag" on campaign promises
Hungary's small conservative Democratic Forum has called on the Fiscal Council to put a price tag on parties' election promises, the party's deputy leader Karoly Herenyi told the press on Monday. MDF advocates transparency in the campaign and suggests that... [read complete entry]
January 28, 2010, 09:47 CET
Fidesz launches legal suit against former PM, finance ministry
Opposition Fidesz has launched a legal suit against former prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany and the finance minister at the time Janos Veres, accusing them of having misled the electorate with inaccurate data on the situation of Hungary's budget, a Fidesz... [read complete entry]
January 15, 2010, 10:33 CET
Fidesz doubts gov't can meet 2010 budget deficit target
The Hungarian government will not be able to meet its 2010 budget deficit target, a main opposition Fidesz official said on Thursday. Laszlo Domokos, who is deputy head of parliament's budget committee, said the government will rake up three-quarters of... [read complete entry]
January 12, 2010, 04:07 CET
Is Banjai unwittingly setting up Fidesz for a euro-fuelled re-election in 2014?
On Sunday Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai stressed that Hungary could beat the remaining central European countries already not in the eurozone into the club, provided Fidesz doesn't blow it. My guess is that Bajnai was not really playing politics in... [read complete entry]
January 07, 2010, 10:48 CET
MSZP candidate for PM pushes government to extend social spending
Prime Minister candidate of the governing Socialist Party Attila Mesterhazy said on Wednesday that he had requested Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai to extend Hungary's crisis management fund when it expires at the end of January. Bajnai has promised to extend... [read complete entry]
December 28, 2009, 09:24 CET
Fidesz leader says gov't only policy to meet IMF/EU bailout terms
Government policy over the past six months has failed to go beyond meeting conditions for international loans, head of main opposition Fidesz's parliamentary group Tibor Navracsics told MTI in an interview on Sunday. Assessing the past six months, Navracsics said... [read complete entry]
December 23, 2009, 09:42 CET
Socialist leader calls 2009 year of economic housecleaning
Hungarian Socialist Party leader Ildiko Lendvai has called 2009 a year of successful house-cleaning in the economy, and 2010 a year of responsible decision. The government has managed "to remove all skeletons from the cupboard", and compiled a transparent budget... [read complete entry]
December 22, 2009, 10:00 CET
Fidesz leader reportedly plans ministry mergers after election
Head of the main opposition Fidesz party Viktor Orban plans to merge the ministries of health, social affairs, culture and education if Fidesz wins next year's parliamentary elections, daily Nepszabadsag said on Monday quoting sources close to the party. Orban... [read complete entry]
December 18, 2009, 11:39 CET
Bokros: Don't bother voting for me or my party, honestly
As expected, last weekend the struggling Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) nominated Lajos Bokros as its candidate for prime minister in the next general elections. Apparently the party figures that having the famously/infamously strict former finance minister as its public face... [read complete entry]
December 16, 2009, 09:29 CET
Socialists, opposition squabble over new private pension fund law
The recently passed law on private pensions has two main goals: to raise the security of old people's savings and to supplement regulation of pension allowance payments which was lacking until now, Socialist MP Tibor Kekesi told MTI on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]
December 10, 2009, 09:38 CET
Orbán says Hungarian society dominated by "organized lies"
Politics cannot be built on a foundation composed of lies, main opposition Fidesz party leader Viktor Orban said in Bonn on Wednesday, addressing a roundtable focussing on the experience of the year 1989 during a European People's Party congress. Orban... [read complete entry]
December 07, 2009, 10:28 CET
Orbán says ready to form new gov't quickly, says current budget a "fraud"
Viktor Orban, leader of the main opposition Fidesz party, wants to form the next government in a fast and efficient manner next spring, he told MTI on Friday. Orban, whose party appears in polls as the winner of next year's... [read complete entry]
December 07, 2009, 10:26 CET
Hungary's defense spending to rise next year, reach €1.2 billion
Defence spending will increase in next year's budget to reach a total of 308.2 billion forints (EUR 1.2 bn), or 1.17 percent of gross domestic product, the defence ministry said on Friday. Of the total spending budgeted, 16.687 billion forints... [read complete entry]
December 01, 2009, 09:21 CET
Hungarian Parliament passes 2010 budget
MPs approved next year's budget in Parliament yesterday, around a month earlier than usual. Only one Socialist MP, Székesfehérvár mayor Tihamér Warvasovszky, voted against it, as did four Free Democrat MPs. Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai visited the Socialist caucus before... [read complete entry]
November 25, 2009, 09:13 CET
Gov't backs launch of corruption survey by State Audit Office
The Hungarian government welcomes that the State Audit Office (ASZ) will launch a programme to survey corruption risks, government spokesman Domokos Szollar told MTI on Tuesday. ASZ General Secretary Pal Csapodi announced earlier on Tuesday that the office will start... [read complete entry]
November 24, 2009, 09:10 CET
PM calls for rethink of social benefits system, rues democratic "disintegration"
Hungary's social welfare system needs to be rethought, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai told a gathering arranged by the Hungarian Democratic Charta on Monday. Bajnai added that "anyone who is physically able should observe the basic norms of social co-existence, profit... [read complete entry]
November 23, 2009, 06:14 CET
Bajnai asks liberals to support 2010 budget
Hungary's Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai attended a meeting of the liberal opposition Free Democrats' parliamentary group on Monday to discuss the party's support for the 2010 budget. The minority ruling Socialists need the liberal votes for passing next year's budget.... [read complete entry]
November 18, 2009, 09:49 CET
Hungary scores poorly on new international corruption ranking
Hungary scored 5.1 points on Transparency International's 1- to 10-point Corruption Perceptions Index for 2009, TI Hungary managing director Noemi Alexa said on Tuesday. Hungary's score put it at 46th place in the global ranking, up one position from a... [read complete entry]
November 16, 2009, 08:39 CET
Liberals deeply divided over 2010 budget
The National Council of the opposition liberal Free Democrats (SZDSZ) does not support next year's state budget and recommends that the party's parliamentary group should also reject it, party chairman Attila Retkes told reporters after the council's Saturday session. The... [read complete entry]
November 11, 2009, 09:32 CET
Orbán promises big tax cuts, three-year budget if Fidesz returned to power
Viktor Orban, leader of conservative opposition Fidesz, promised big tax cuts and a three-year budget in a television interview late on Tuesday. Orban told commercial ATV that he would not now pin a precise figure to the tax cut in... [read complete entry]
November 09, 2009, 07:23 CET
Bajnai says gov't working to explain need for austerity despite opposition
It is the government's task to make as many people as possible understand that there is a serious reason for harsh austerity measures, without which there would be a much steeper downturn, more want and a longer period of going... [read complete entry]
November 05, 2009, 10:05 CET
SZDSZ head says party to vote against budget bill
The leader of Hungary's liberal Free Democrats insisted on Wednesday that his party would refuse to support the government's 2010 budget bill. In a vote on Tuesday, MPs approved the main figures of the bill which includes a budget deficit... [read complete entry]
November 04, 2009, 09:51 CET
Poll shows widespread concern about corruption among Hungarians
Over four fifths of Hungarians say corruption is a serious and unresolved social problem and demand severer punishments for offenders as well as more public-awareness campaigns, according to a survey by Szazadveg, a think-tank, published on Tuesday. The response broadly... [read complete entry]
November 02, 2009, 10:47 CET
Justice minister calls for more transparent public procurement
An anti-graft bill submitted earlier this week is expected to ensure that public procurement procedures are clear and fair while dishing out appropriate penalties for transgressors, Justice Minister Tibor Draskovics told journalists at the weekend. Anyone who uses underhand means... [read complete entry]
October 28, 2009, 08:50 CET
Debate continues over appropriate questions for 2011 census
Hungary's ruling Socialists will consider President Laszlo Solyom's suggestions regarding the 2011 census, but will not support the inclusion of questions on faith, a Socialist official told Wednesday's Nepszabadsag daily. Valeria Deak Fogarasi, deputy chairwoman of the parliamentary committee for... [read complete entry]
October 20, 2009, 11:25 CET
Budapest district government accused of running whorehouse
The Socialist government of Budapest's District XVIII (Pestszentlőrinc) spent public funds on a bordello, according to a juicy report - including shots taken with hidden cameras - by Hír TV. The Socialist-unfriendly channel charges that the SZAC Hotel (left) was... [read complete entry]
October 20, 2009, 11:18 CET
Work of aged peasants to be trod on by gluttonous politicians
A gigantic new carpet for a hall in Hungary's parliament building is being made in Békésszentandrás on Europe's largest loom by old ladies who will probably not see much of the Ft 47 million (€175,000) it is expected to cost... [read complete entry]
October 16, 2009, 09:50 CET
Gyurcsány, other leading Socialists face questioning in Zuschlag fraud case
A court has ordered the questioning of former prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, Socialist caucus leader Attila Mesterházy, former secret services minister György Szilvásy and three lesser-known politicians as suspects in the Zuschlag fraud case. The Bács county prosecutor has pressed... [read complete entry]
October 12, 2009, 09:19 CET
Municipalities stage protest in Budapest against 2010 budget
Thousands of people gathered on Kossuth tér outside Parliament Saturday morning to protest against cuts in state funding for local governments. Debrecen mayor and Fidesz MP Lajos Kósa, the main speaker, declared “Hungary has become an Absurdistan, local governments have... [read complete entry]
October 08, 2009, 11:32 CET
Bajnai says Socialists to eventually benefit from unpopular economic measures
Bajnai says Socialists to eventually benefit from unpopular economic measures In the short term the government's anti-crisis measures may make the Socialist Party unpopular, but they will increase the party's credibility, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said in Budapest on Wednesday.... [read complete entry]
October 08, 2009, 10:11 CET
Accusations fly in Parliamentary budget debate
Socialist MP Mónika Lamperth accused senior opposition party Fidesz of lying to voters during the second day of debate on the 2010 budget bill in Parliament yesterday. "The Socialists are governing responsibly while Fidesz uses the budget debate as an... [read complete entry]
October 07, 2009, 09:41 CET
MPs begin rancorous debate of 2010 budget bill
Finance Minister Péter Oszkó promised growth in the second half of 2010 in a general debate on the 2010 budget bill in Parliament yesterday. “Standard & Poor's, one of the main credit rating agencies, has improved its rating for Hungary,... [read complete entry]
October 05, 2009, 11:00 CET
Szíjjártó lays out Fidesz's post-election priorities
The first priority of a Fidesz government will be to launch economic growth by cutting taxes, Peter Szijjarto, the head of the party's cabinet, told MTI in an interview. Szijjarto said that Fidesz would renegotiate the conditions of the IMF-led... [read complete entry]
October 05, 2009, 10:52 CET
Orbán says accountability more important than country's finances
"I consider holding accountable those responsible for Hungary's present position as more important than the country's finances," Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán told MTV talk show "Ma reggel" (This Morning) on Friday. Antall-era Justice Minister István Balsai will oversee strategic planning... [read complete entry]
October 05, 2009, 10:50 CET
Budapest Socialists debate future of discredited leaders
The Budapest Socialist Party executive committee will hold a special party council meeting tomorrow to address internal dissent against its leadership, mainly because of the recent scandals at Budapest transport company BKV. Péter Farkas, a 17th District chapter executive committee... [read complete entry]
October 02, 2009, 10:19 CET
Bajnai vows government will protect pensioners' interests
Bajnai vows government will protect interests of pensioners Hungary's prime minister Gordon Bajnai offered partnership to pensioners and promised he would protect their long-term interests at a forum on Thursday. Speaking at an event marking the International Day of Older... [read complete entry]
September 30, 2009, 09:08 CET
Government reaches surprise hospital funding deal, heading off protests
Hungarian hospital leaders, who recently mounted protests against government cutbacks, have unexpectedly done a deal with the government to call off their action in exchange for limited top-up funds, Nepszabadsag daily said on Wednesday. Negotiations suddenly ended with an agreement... [read complete entry]
September 29, 2009, 09:13 CET
Fidesz to lead demonstration against cuts to local council budget
Debrecen's Fidesz mayor Lajos Kósa will lead a protest against the draft budget outside Parliament at 11 a.m. on October 10. Kósa has asked local government leaders, council members and employees to protest against "the most dangerous budget of the... [read complete entry]
September 28, 2009, 10:09 CET
Orbán says Fidesz would quickly move to make sweeping changes
“Fidesz will not require a 100-day grace period if it wins the next parliamentary elections; and will start work at once,” chairman Viktor Orbán told the tabloid Blikk on Saturday. He said “one million new jobs, 3,000 more police officers... [read complete entry]
September 25, 2009, 09:54 CET
Analyst says big Fidesz victory could spur big economic changes
The greater the Fidesz victory in next year’s elections, the greater the possibility that the party will attempt to make major economic policy changes, such as concluding a new pact with the IMF or changing the pension system, political scientist... [read complete entry]
September 24, 2009, 09:39 CET
Bajnai vows to resign if Parliament rejects budget bill
Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai on Wednesday said he would resign if parliament rejects the 2010 budget bill in November, though he said he was confident that the bill would clear Parliament. Giving a lecture in Columbia University, Bajnai said... [read complete entry]
September 21, 2009, 10:36 CET
Bajnai begins official visit to New York
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai met investors at an event organised by Citibank in New York on Sunday. Bajnai travelled to the US for a five-day visit to attend a UN general meeting. He is scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General Ban... [read complete entry]
September 21, 2009, 10:25 CET
Orbán says Fidesz to scrap 2010 budget if returned to power
Fidesz will revoke the 2010 budget if it gains power next year, party leader Viktor Orbán told HírTV Friday evening. Calling the budget the most dangerous of the past 20 years, Orbán said it will endanger hundreds of thousands of... [read complete entry]
September 18, 2009, 09:41 CET
Costs of 2010 elections expected to near Ft 15 billion
The parliamentary, local and presidential elections in 2010 will cost Ft 14.9 billion, next year's draft budget reveals. The figure was Ft 10.5 billion in 2006, although no presidential elections were held that year. The draft allocates Ft 3.8 billion... [read complete entry]
September 14, 2009, 09:47 CET
Bajnai announces new EU-backed Roma initiative
Nearly 200 Roma with university degrees will be admitted to work in public administration with their salaries to be initially paid by an EU project, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said in an interview with Népszabadság. The government will also begin... [read complete entry]
September 14, 2009, 09:42 CET
Orbán denounces draft 2010 budget; warns of "collapse" of state services
Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán on Friday urged the cabinet to withdraw the draft 2010 budget and not stand in the way of change as he addressed a Fidesz rally to launch the autumn political season. Speaking at Budapest's Millenáris Park,... [read complete entry]
September 11, 2009, 11:24 CET
PM in talks with SZDSZ head over 2010 budget
The 2010 budget bill was the focus of talks between Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and liberal opposition Free Democrats leader Attila Retkes on Thursday. Retkes said that on the basis of the basic budget figures, he saw a good chance... [read complete entry]
September 09, 2009, 10:10 CET
Mud-slinging begins in District government corruption dogfight
It was inevitable that Budapest's Socialists would hit back against Fidesz after several of its local government officials have become embroiled in high-profile embezzlement scandals. According to MSZP, Budapest's District XVII, led by opposition party Fidesz, lost nearly Ft 100... [read complete entry]
September 07, 2009, 10:36 CET
Government beefs up police force with 1,000 new officers
From the autumn 1,000 more police officers will patrol public areas, police secondary schools will be allowed to admit 150% more pupils, and implementation of a Village Guard programme will begin, as part of the cabinet's new public safety programme,... [read complete entry]
September 07, 2009, 09:34 CET
Local government unions break off budget talks with government
Hungary’s seven local government interest protection alliances broke off negotiations with the government on Friday, insisting that specific numbers rather than principles should be on the agenda just one week before the draft budget is submitted to Parliament. The alliances... [read complete entry]
September 02, 2009, 09:37 CET
Extent of benefits enjoyed by retiring public servants revealed
As Hungarians continue to keep a close eye on where their taxes go, newspapers will continue to write headlines like the above. But although public dignitaries in Hungary are entitled to benefits long after their service in office ends, the... [read complete entry]
September 02, 2009, 09:13 CET
Orbán pledges to take Hungary off "respirator of foreign loans and aid”
Fidesz spokesman Péter Szíjjártó quoted party chairman Viktor Orbán as having told President László Sólyom that the right wing can put Hungary back on its feet, after a change of government “instead of being kept on a respirator of foreign... [read complete entry]
August 27, 2009, 10:19 CET
Prime Minister condemns severance pay scandals
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said he was outraged by the severance payment scandals of the past few weeks, speaking on commercial television channel RTL Klub on Wednesday. "Municipally or state-owned companies should not apply for subsidies until they tidy up... [read complete entry]
August 19, 2009, 09:28 CET
Mayor continues to get sick, dirty money in jail
György Hunvald, the former mayor of Budapest's District VII former (Erzsébetváros), is still taking in nearly Ft 250,000 (over €900) a month despite having been in preliminary detention on charges of bribery and other crimes for more than six months,... [read complete entry]
August 18, 2009, 11:57 CET
Foreign Ministry's multi-million-dollar tax windfall turns into multi-million-dollar lawsuit
Around a month ago, the Hungarian government made a small splash in the American press after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton decided to overrule New York City's efforts to collect taxes from the countries that had big back-tax bills... [read complete entry]
August 17, 2009, 10:31 CET
Pécs mayor slammed for blowing struggling city's cash on porcelain tchotchkes
There's a nice little catfight going on down in the southern capital of Pécs, where the Fidesz-KDNP mayor, Zsolt Páva, is being denounced by his socialist enemies for wanting to spend some of the cash-strapped city's scarce financial resources buying... [read complete entry]
August 17, 2009, 09:23 CET
Socialists mull nominating Bajnai to lead next election ticket
Several leading members of Hungary's ruling Socialist party are considering asking Gordon Bajnai, the head of the crisis-management government, to be the party's candidate for prime minister at the next parliamentary elections, Nepszava daily said on Monday, quoting unnamed sources... [read complete entry]
August 14, 2009, 11:07 CET
Budapest City Council battles over scandal at public transport firm
The Socialist members of Budapest city council will initiate the dismissal of BKV CEO István Kocsis because of the state of affairs prevailing at the public transport company, the scandalously large severance payments there, and the loss of confidence in... [read complete entry]
August 04, 2009, 09:38 CET
Socialists to consult with PM on 2010 budget
The executive board of Hungary's ruling Socialist party will consult with Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai on the main outline of the 2010 budget on Friday, people close to the talks who wished to not to be named told MTI on... [read complete entry]
July 30, 2009, 02:10 CET
SZDSZ parliamentary leader says state hiring freeze just first step
The recently announced freeze on new hires in Hungary's state administration is only the first step to a smaller and more frugal state, liberal Free Democrats group leader Janos Koka said on Wednesday. The government spokesman announced on Tuesday that... [read complete entry]
July 29, 2009, 09:33 CET
Bajnai orders public-sector hiring freeze
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai has ordered a ban on employing new personnel in state administration, spokesman Domokos Szollár told reporters on Tuesday. Positions that become vacant will not be filled, nor may contracts be used to outsource tasks from ministries... [read complete entry]
July 29, 2009, 09:24 CET
PM tells local councils to tighten budgets, cut red tape
The strictures of next year's crisis management budget mean that Hungary's local governments will have to tighten their belts, though cuts will not be uniformly top-sliced, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai told a news conference on Tuesday. Reserves built up from... [read complete entry]
July 27, 2009, 10:25 CET
New SZDSZ leaders say party cannot support more economic crisis measures
The new leadership of Hungary's liberal Free Democrats continue to support the government's crisis management measures, but no further ones, party leader Attila Retkes said on Sunday, reacting to Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai's letter to political party group leaders asking... [read complete entry]
July 27, 2009, 10:22 CET
Bokros presses government to make deeper structural reforms
The crisis measures of Hungary's Bajnai government do not go nearly deep enough and the country will suffer unless serious structural reforms are undertaken, Lajos Bokros, a Democratic Forum MEP said in an interview in Monday's Nepszabadsag daily. The situation... [read complete entry]
July 27, 2009, 09:54 CET
Analysts see Bajnai cabinet as more effective than predecessor's
In spite of coming to power only about a year before Hungary's next general elections, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai is leading no lame-duck government; on the contrary, his cabinet has more to show for their efforts than the previous government... [read complete entry]
July 23, 2009, 12:04 CET
Socialists pledge to continue supporting embattled Bajnai cabinet
The national executive of the Socialist Party on Wednesday renewed its pledge to support the semi-technocratic government headed by Gordon Bajnai, said the party's spokesman Istvan Nyako. Nyako told MTI that the decision to support the government's crisis-management programme had... [read complete entry]
July 20, 2009, 11:45 CET
Socialist leader warns Orbán to halt comments on economy
Socialist Party chairwoman Ildikó Lendvai on Sunday urged Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán not to make economic statements "for at least a few weeks, because if he cannot or does not want to improve things, he should not do any wrong... [read complete entry]
July 20, 2009, 11:37 CET
Bokros says local councils need sweeping reform
Hungary's local councils need to be fundamentally reformed rather than tinkered with, Lajos Bokros, MEP of the conservative Democratic Forum, told public television on Monday. Bokros, a former finance minister, said that government measures to change the financing of municipalities... [read complete entry]
July 14, 2009, 10:34 CET
Famous liberals desert SZDSZ as party's woes mount
A dozen well-known personalities of Hungary's small liberal opposition Free Democrats announced their decision to leave the party in a letter sent to MTI on Monday. The signatories, including founding members Gyorgy Konrad, Miklos Haraszti, Gabor Ivanyi and Laszlo Rajk,... [read complete entry]
July 14, 2009, 09:27 CET
Hungary signs Nabucco pipeline deal with other regional gas users
Hungarian Prime Minster Gordon Bajnai on Monday signed an intergovernmental agreement with leaders from other countries involved in the planned construction of the Nabucco pipeline, which will bring natural gas from Central Asia to Europe, reducing the region's energy dependence... [read complete entry]
July 08, 2009, 09:44 CET
Socialist leader says Fidesz raising Hungary's international risk profile
The main opposition Fidesz party's policies have become an "element of risk" in Hungary's international assessment, head of the governing Socialist party Ildiko Lendvai said in a statement on Tuesday. Lendvai referred to credit rating institute Standard and Poor's, stating... [read complete entry]
July 07, 2009, 09:29 CET
Bajnai says 2010 budget to serve economy, not Socialists re-election chances
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said at Saturday's Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) congress that the government's 2010 budget must be formulated to address the economic crisis, not increase the MSZP's popularity ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled to take place next... [read complete entry]
July 03, 2009, 12:01 CET
PM hails cabinet's 75 days of progress, says Fidesz promises "absurd"
The cabinet has completed a considerable portion of its tasks during its 75 days in office, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said in an interview with Népszabadság on Thursday, following the successful passing of his cabinet's measures in Parliament on Monday.... [read complete entry]
July 01, 2009, 09:46 CET
IMF says early elections possible as slump deepens
There is a chance that early elections will be held in Hungary due to political instability, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said yesterday in a statement summing up the fulfilment of conditions for the loan it extended to Hungary. The... [read complete entry]
June 30, 2009, 09:41 CET
Bajnai says gov't to "resolutely continue" efforts follow tax vote
"The cabinet, with a steady parliamentary majority, will resolutely continue down its path of the last 75 days, which leads out of the crisis," Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai told Parliament before regular business on Monday. Speaking on the last day... [read complete entry]
June 29, 2009, 11:34 CET
Liberals to back government on 2010 tax package in today's vote
The leader of the parliamentary group of the liberal Free Democrats said on Monday that the group had narrowly voted to support the government's tax package. The parliamentary vote on the bill being held later today will decide the fate... [read complete entry]
June 26, 2009, 10:26 CET
Bajnai says Fidesz not serious about "impossible" economic pledges
Hungary is pursuing a responsible economic policy and it would be a big mistake to reverse the government's crisis-management measures, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai told local papers. In interviews published by several local papers on Friday, Bajnai said he considered... [read complete entry]
June 23, 2009, 09:52 CET
Hungarian army union protests against austerity measures
The trade union of the Hungarian armed forces organised a demonstration to protest against the government's austerity measures in front of Parliament on Monday. At the demonstration, union leader Geza Meszaros told the some 600 participants that the increased burden... [read complete entry]
June 23, 2009, 08:53 CET
Hungarian groups in Australia, New Zealand fight consulate closure
Hungarian organisations in Australia and New Zealand have appealed to Hungary's foreign minister to review the decision on closing down the Hungarian consulate-general in Sydney. In an open letter, a copy of which was sent to MTI on Monday, the... [read complete entry]
June 22, 2009, 11:51 CET
Ministers donate salaries to crisis fund as MP calls on banks to contribute
All ministers of Hungary's government have offered to donate one month's salary to the newly set up crisis management fund, aimed to help those worse affected by the crisis, the government spokesman said on Friday. Domokos Szollar said the contributions... [read complete entry]
June 22, 2009, 10:12 CET
Socialist official says Central Bank head should resign over ethics charges
Hungary's central bank chief Andras Simor should resign for failing to meet the moral standards that the left requires of people in high positions in a time of crisis, senior official of the governing Socialist party Jozsef Tobias told public... [read complete entry]
June 22, 2009, 09:44 CET
Socialist chairwoman says party needs new face for PM
The Socialist Party needs a new, young prime ministerial candidate who is capable of regaining the trust of voters, party chairwoman Ildikó Lendvai told a press conference on Sunday. She said the July 4 party convention should debate an action... [read complete entry]
June 19, 2009, 09:26 CET
Hungarian government supports extension of Barroso's term as EC president
The Hungarian cabinet supports the extension of the commission of European Commission President José Manuel Durao Barroso, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai confirmed in Brussels on Thursday. Bajnai underlined that it is necessary that someone completes the crisis management in the... [read complete entry]
June 12, 2009, 02:38 CET
Socialists make call for rich individuals, companies to donate to "crisis" fund
Hungary's governing Socialists are calling on the 100 richest people, national and local politicians, banks and businesses to make one-off donations as contribution to the crisis management fund, the party's parliamentary group director said on Friday. "The 100 richest entrepreneurs... [read complete entry]
June 11, 2009, 08:28 CET
Fidesz to put demands to Socialists in "open letter"
The outcome of the EP elections suggests that voters have withdrawn their confidence from the ruling Socialists; in a democracy, this usually means that fresh elections are called, main opposition Fidesz party leader Viktor Orban told a press conference in... [read complete entry]
June 10, 2009, 09:49 CET
Bajnai warns global economic crisis could radicalize population
The global economic crisis could drive people en masse towards radicalism, Hungary's Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said in an interview to the monthly journal Mozgo Vilag to be published later in the week. The fact that states everywhere are going... [read complete entry]
June 09, 2009, 11:39 CET
PM urges Parliament to stay focused on reform; bemoans success of Jobbik
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai told a session of Parliament on Monday that he was focusing on his work ahead, and he said that the advance of the radical nationalist Jobbik party presented a "huge problem". Bajnai insisted that it was... [read complete entry]
June 08, 2009, 11:37 CET
Socialists vow to press forward after drubbing in EP election
After suffering a crushing defeat in the European Parliamentary elections on Sunday, in which the opposition conservatives and radical Jobbik won 18 seats out of the 22 available to Hungary, the minority governing Socialist party vowed to continue its crisis... [read complete entry]
June 04, 2009, 12:43 CET
Jobbik demands "corrupt" politicians be held to account
Jobbik, a non-parliamentary radical party which polls indicate will win at least one seat in the European Parliament, is calling for a change of government and for Hungary's ruling politicians to be "held to account", the party's leader, Gabor Vona,... [read complete entry]
June 04, 2009, 12:29 CET
Think tank says political and economic risk in Hungary at all-time high
The economic and political risk index has dropped to an all-time low in Hungary in the past year and a half, a country report by the think tank Political Capital (PC) and the economic weekly Figyelo, published on Wednesday, stated.... [read complete entry]
June 02, 2009, 08:25 CET
Central Bank head denies Orbán's claim he evaded taxes
National Bank governor András Simor has asked Fidesz leader Viktor Orbán to refrain from making slanderous remarks after the Fidesz leader accused him of evading taxes. Such comments tarnish his good reputation and the prestige of the National Bank, Simor... [read complete entry]
June 02, 2009, 08:14 CET
Orbán downplays Fidesz polling lead in advance of EP vote
Hungary's main opposition Fidesz leader Viktor Orban warned his supporters on Sunday that staying at home or voting for someone else will mean "the left's victory and a continuation of the Gyurcsany-Bajnai era." Speaking on a radio programme, Orban said... [read complete entry]
June 02, 2009, 07:29 CET
Jobbik leader slams debt, trade, central bank, high crime
The leader of Hungary's radical nationalist Jobbik party on Saturday called for crisis management, improving public safety and Hungarians' national consciousness at a European Parliamentary elections campaign rally. Gabor Vona said Hungary should initiate talks on reducing its public debt... [read complete entry]
May 29, 2009, 11:33 CET
Bajnai says Hungary to maintain support for ethnic kin despite crisis
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai, speaking at a meeting with representatives of ethnic Hungarian organisations on Thursday, pledged to continue to support ethnic Hungarians beyond the borders despite the economic downturn. The government has dut