Localities with a population of less than 1,500 may increase the pay of their mayors by as much as 30 per cent if they are able to raise the necessary funds within their budgets, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office told the press at his usual Thursday press conference.
János Lázár said at the press conference „Governmentinfo 29 – What does the Government do and why?”: as a result, the incomes of locality leaders in the lowest pay bracket may increase from HUF 75,000 to HUF 95,000. At the same time, he stressed that this pay rise can only be implemented from the localities’ own funds.
He also informed the press: the conflict of interest rules relating to the leaders of localities with a population of less than 3,000 may be eased, and they, too, will be allowed to engage in gainful activities in addition to their mayoral duties.
Opposition parties attacked farmers
At the press conference the head of the Prime Minister’s Office described it as an attack on farmers that the opposition parties turned to the Constitutional Court regarding the planned sale of state-owned land. He found it a shocking turn of events that LMP, Jobbik and MSZP entered into a coalition with a view to objecting to the fact that foreigners will be left out of the land purchases and the interest of large holders will be curtailed. He cannot even tell any more which large land owner is backing which party, he said.
The Minister also told the press that the national agency for the management of land has received some 100,000 enquiries regarding the land auctions, and 60,000 of these enquiries were made by potential buyers.
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He further informed the press that the Government will discuss the plans for setting up a system of model farms on 18 November. There will be two types of model farms according to plans, he said. One category will include state-owned companies engaged in agricultural activities – such as Szilvásvárad, Bábolna and Mezőhegyes –, while the other category will entail an economic structure where an interest of the national economy is attached to the successful operation of the given farms. This is a product concept, he explained, where agricultural production and the manufacture of the end-product, i.e. food processing are tied together. He mentioned that Bóly Zrt. and Dalmand Zrt. – both interests form part of Sándor Csányi’s company group – qualify as such farms in Hungary. There is no expert that could call this into question, he said, referring to the fact that this group provides a living for thousands of people.
Speaking about Mezőhegyes, Mr Lázár pointed out: the Government has decided on the re-establishment of the stud farm, and will assign 3,500-4,000 hectares of arable land to its operation as a model farm.
There will be three new types of crèche service
The Minister said that the Government is introducing three new types of crèche service: they are developing the conditions relating to the operation of mini, work place and family crèches. According to the Government’s intentions, it will be easier to establish and maintain these, and also to leave children under the care of these institutions.
State Secretary for Family Affairs Katalin Novák will table a motion to Parliament regarding the re-regulation of the relevant institutional framework.
Mr Lázár also told the press that as of 1 January 2017, four meals a day will be provided for children, and that they also rely on municipalities in the provision of meals for children during the school holidays.
He further announced: the extra maternity benefit will be available to young mothers already as of when their children complete the age of six months, and the teacher career model will also be extended to crèche workers.
Electronic administration will be easier
The Minister told the press: the Government will propose a framework law to facilitate electronic administration. He said: it will be possible to have personal documents issued electronically, the use of electronic signature will be re-regulated, and measures will also be taken with a view to e-payment.
The Minister of Interior will be required to present a proposal by December as to what IT developments will have to be implemented at state agencies, with the aid of EU funds, in order to make the widest possible range of services available electronically.
The Minister takes the view that electronic communication between members of the public and the State may become ordinary routine within 2 to 3 years’ time, and to achieve this, the most important task to complete is that there should also be electronic communication between the various state agencies.
The Ministry of Human Resources invited a call for ideas regarding the rehabilitation of the Museum Garden in order for the park to serve the community’s benefit, he reported.
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Mr Lázár further informed the press: 43,000 war orphans submitted applications for war victim benefits – the youngest one of them is 70 years old; the benefits are already being provided for 27,000 of them, and only a thousand persons’ applications have been refused. The individuals concerned receive HUF 8,800 monthly and eligibility for free medical supplies, and this service has also been extended to Hungarians beyond the borders from whom a thousand applications have been received to date, he remarked.
The Minister also reported that the Government will decide on a proposal regarding the transformation of the National Tax and Customs Administration on 18 November, but as he pointed out, the Ministry of National Economy has yet to prepare the plans of the comprehensive reform in the wake of the decision.
In response to the socialists’ criticism to the effect that MVM’s gas trader helped to bring expensive natural gas to the Hungarian market, thereby keeping gas prices artificially high, Mr Lázár said: MET Zrt. gave the best offer, and MVM bought the cheapest gas from MET.
The Minister was also asked about the settlement of the financing of the Budapest transport company BKV. He said: the funding that was laid down in the budget will be provided for the company. Everything else is a matter of negotiation. He takes the view: it is out of the question that they would not be able to resolve the matter.
Regarding the possible separation of Pest County and Budapest, Mr Lázár said: the decision of the county general meeting is not enough. The Government will consult each and every Pest County locality and municipality as to what they would prefer. He is convinced, he said, that it would be good for the localities concerned if they could operate as an independent region as of 2020.
The uncut version of the video recordings made at the event can be downloaded in the Press Room.
(Prime Minister's Office/MTI)
