In a video message posted on Saturday, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister announced further questions of the national consultation which will start shortly about the Internet usage of families raising children, the popularisation of domestic tourism and a disease control monitoring service.

Continuing the introduction of the questions of the national consultation, in a video message posted on the government’s social media account, Mr Dömötör said the introduction of digital education had required major efforts equally on the part of teachers, students and parents. Thanking them all for standing their ground, he stressed that increased Internet usage represented an extra burden also financially; this is why the government is asking members of the public whether Hungarians support the idea that during epidemics families raising school-age children and teachers should have free access to the Internet.

In the context of the sharing of burdens, they are asking the Hungarian people whether they agree with the fundamental principle that banks and multinational companies should also contribute to the costs of the fight against the epidemic, he said.

He highlighted that they would likewise like to engage in a dialogue about whether the Hungarian people support the already launched job protection programmes also during the post-pandemic period, and whether they agree that the purchase of domestic products should be encouraged with separate programmes and that domestic tourism should be promoted.

Mr Dömötör pointed out that the Brussels disease control agency did not detect the threat of the epidemic on time; they described the virus as a moderate threat at a time when “we already had the problem here on our doorstep”. Therefore, they are asking the question of whether there is a need for a permanent Hungarian disease control monitoring service, he announced.

He said the questionnaire can be sent back by mail, while later it will also be possible to complete it online. As these are questions about which everyone is likely to have an opinion, Mr Dömötör encouraged everyone to have their voice heard in the national consultation starting shortly.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)