The government has decided to set up a school guard, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office announced at his Thursday online press conference where he also highlighted that instead of 1 January 2021, in Hungary single-use plastics will be banned from 1 July 2021.

Regarding school guards, Gergely Gulyás said in the first round this measure will concern some 500 schools, including approximately 140 to 150 vocational schools. School guards will form part of the school staff and will be permanently present on school premises in institutions faced with the most critical disciplinary problems. It is to be presumed that mostly former police officers will be members of the body of 500. School guards will not be armed, but could carry other compliance equipment and will also be authorised to take action in the interest of preventing the use of violence.

They will further extend the range of criminal offences where the lower limit of punishability is 12 years, and all crimes committed against teachers will fall into this category, the Minister said.

It is the duty of the state to maintain order in schools and to protect teachers, he stated, observing that in most places there are no such problems, but there are regions where there are regular disciplinary problems, and the threat of violence against teachers is permanent; something which is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.

He added that they had also consulted with the Members of Parliament of the regions concerned; they all supported the proposal. At the same time, if necessary, the government is ready to hire even more school guards.

Mr Gulyás announced that instead of 1 January 2021, in Hungary single-use plastics will be banned from 1 July 2021.

This ban must be imposed – especially in the present difficult situation – in a way that does not jeopardise jobs, he stressed.

He indicated that Minister for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics had conducted consultations with actors in the sector and Members of Parliament for the most affected constituencies – the constituency of Fidesz Member of Parliament Sándor Font is the most affected area. Based on these consultations, the parties concerned agreed on the date of 1 July next year and that the use of single-use plastics will be banned above 15 microns. The EU regulation requires a ban above 50 microns, meaning that the Hungarian regulation will be more stringent, he observed.

“This is in harmony with our commitment to a green policy,” he said.

He also said the Ministry for Innovation and Technology will make ten billion forints available to businesses in the sector in the interest of implementing a change of technology. As a result, their level of competitiveness will remain the same or will improve, despite the fact that they will no longer be allowed to manufacture some of their products.

Mr Gulyás was asked regarding the fact that, in the context of the recently submitted budget for next year, Mayor of Budapest Gergely Karácsony complained that the solidarity tax would bleed local governments out. In his reply, the Minister highlighted that so far they have adopted decisions which have required local governments to participate in the fight against the epidemic to a much lesser degree compared with the state. These have affected the metropolitan municipality the least given that it has no automobile tax or tourism tax revenues. He pointed out that the capital had so far been given relief “as regards the solidarity tax”, and the rate of this will decrease significantly. This does not mean an increase in central revenues because what the government collects from richer local governments on such grounds will be paid to poorer local governments, he explained. They are asking the Mayor of Budapest and the metropolitan municipality to take part in an act of solidarity which the entire country is invited to share. The burdens are not disproportionate in the least, and in fact, so far burdens have been disproportionate in their favour, he said.

In answer to the question about whether the metropolitan municipality has asked for funds for the refurbishment of the Chain Bridge, he said former Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós asked for funds for the project, and the government agreed with him to grant HUF 6 billion for the purpose. They maintain this offer; however, they do not know whether the metropolitan municipality still wants these funds, he said in reference to a statement made by Deputy Mayor of Budapest Dávid Dorosz to the effect that they would like to keep the government as far from this project as possible. The government would like the bridge operated by the metropolitan municipality to be refurbished within the shortest possible time, in accordance with the agreement concluded with Mr Tarlós, with the closure of the bridge for maximum a year and a half. If the metropolitan municipality does not request the government’s assistance with this project, they are happy to use the allocated funds for boosting the economy further and reinforcing the disease control effort, Mr Gulyás observed.

He also highlighted that they will next meet with Mr Karácsony on 9 June, at the meeting of the Council of Metropolitan Public Developments where they will ask him to make it clear whether he shares the Deputy Mayor’s position or not.

Regarding the Italian Foreign Minister’s proposal that all Member States of the European Union should open their borders on 15 June, he said every government is responsible for the safety of their own citizens, and the Hungarian government is negotiating accordingly. First they would like to and will open the borders with countries where the rate of infection is not significantly different from that of Hungary. Italy is not among these countries, and in his view, we should wait with opening borders towards Italy; Hungary is not the only country that shares this view.

In the context of the rescue package worth EUR 750 billion announced by the European Commission the day before, he said on Thursday Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will negotiate with several leaders, and the government will develop its position in light of these talks. As expected, the Prime Minister will be able to state his view on the matter in his Friday morning radio interview.

He added that joint borrowing represented a new phase of integration which had not existed before. We should therefore carefully consider whether we want to set out in that direction and what consequences this move could have.

In answer to a question about planned housing projects in brown-field areas, Mr Gulyás said this is a new opportunity for large cities and primarily for the capital. They would like a genuine urban rehabilitation programme which can only be successful if the state is also able to involve the market, he added. He said the maximum size of the properties built in these areas cannot exceed 150 square metres, and the VAT on these construction projects is only 5 per cent.

Regarding the VAT legislation relating to brown-field areas, he also said upon the formulation of the relevant rules, they took account of the EU’s taxation practice, and it is to be hoped that there will be no disputes with Brussels.

Responding to a statement by the Romanian Foreign Minister regarding the economy development grants provided by Hungary, Mr Gulyás took the view that after 100 years, it would be a welcome change if Romania regarded the Hungarians living there as its own citizens, and if that was the case, they would be happy that Hungarian corporate or state funds appear in regions with majority Hungarian populations. We would be happy if the Romanian government decided to support the Romanian community living in Hungary in any way because we believe that by doing so they would enrich Hungary, he highlighted.

In answer to a question relating to recent violent crimes, he said the government has always favoured a strict penal policy; however, recent events have drawn attention to the fact that the use of drugs by young people is a threat to the whole of society, and this is an issue that must be dealt with.

He also mentioned that in the past many had established churches due to the available favourable taxation options. At the same time, in the context of Faith Church [Hit Gyülekezete] such accusations cannot arise, given that it is an operational church with a congregation.

(Prime Minister’s Office/MTI)