An immediate on-site inspection has been ordered at a chemical site located on Illatos út in the 9th district where some 2,800 tonnes of waste were deposited illegally, János Lázár announced at today’s Government Info session. The Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office also spoke about the local and international public hearings related to the development of the Paks Atomic Power Station, the covering up of the shop windows of tobacco shops, the new procurement law and the social debate concerning the death penalty.
The Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office has ordered the launch of an immediate on-site inspection at the site of the Budapest Chemical Works on Illatos út in the 9th district where some 2,800 tonnes of waste were deposited illegally. János Lázár announced this at his press conference held in Budapest on Thursday.
He told the press that an environmental inspection will be conducted by the competent Government Office on Thursday afternoon, and if the findings of the inspection confirm that the waste poses a direct threat, the Government will order its immediate removal to Dorog.
He estimated the costs to amount to HUF 1.1 billion which, the Minister said, will have to be advanced by the Ministry for National Economy, and following this a claim for this sum may be enforced against the assets of the chemical plant currently under liquidation.
Local and international public hearings regarding Paks
János Lázár also reported that public hearings will be held concerning the Paks atomic power station project both in Paks and in the neighbouring countries. A forum will be held in Paks on 7 May with a view to obtaining the permits of the competent environmental authorities, and the first international hearing will be held in Kiev. The Minister remarked: they have to date visited 41 localities in Bács-Kiskun and Tolna Counties, and the vast majority of the people living in those localities overwhelmingly support the maintenance of the Paks power station capacity.
Mr Lázár further announced that the plans of the Government feature the construction of a new bridge on the Danube to enable people living in Bács-Kiskun County to commute to the power station.
According to the Minister, efforts have already begun to prepare local businesses in the largest possible numbers to join the project worth EUR 12 billion, and to ensure that minimum 40 per cent of the project funds, some HUF 1,500 billion, should go to Hungarian enterprises. He also told the press that the Russian party began the preparatory works last week, and the on-site geological works began on 25 April to be completed in August 2016. János Lázár pointed out at the same time that no proceedings of any kind are under way before the European Commission against Hungary in connection with the project.
Government to debate new public procurement law next week
Mr Lázár also told members of the press at the press conference that the draft of the new public procurement law will be presented to the Government next Wednesday; the new legislation will fully comply with the European Commission’s public procurement directives in every one of its provisions.
He stressed that they also wish to represent the interests of local small and medium-sized businesses in the new legislation. The ultimate goal is to reduce the procedural deadlines, to make the procedures less bureaucratic, and to create increased transparency.
As János Lázár put it, „there will be improved discipline” in the field of public procurements, and the new legislation will represent national interests far better than its predecessor.
Hungary may become an international medical training centre
In the context of the fact that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had talks in Pécs this week as part of the Modern Cities programme and also met with the leaders of the Pécs University of Sciences, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office said that the Prime Minister requested Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog and State Secretary for Higher Education László Palkovics to prepare a proposal for the Cabinet regarding the future of medical training in Hungary and the development of medical universities, with special regard to the role of the medical faculty of the Pécs University. The objective is to elevate Hungary to the level of the top medical training centres in the world, the Minister highlighted.
The Minister also informed the press that, parallel with the debate on the budget, the Government will embark on discussing the details of a red tape reduction package. The contemplated reduction of the fees of state administration proceedings in 2016 will form part of this package. According to plans, the Government will launch a consultation on this issue. Mr Lázár mentioned in this context that he will consult with architects and engineers in every region of the country in order to discuss the possible changes in the area of the procedures related to construction.
Debate on the death penalty
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke to Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament (EP) by telephone on Thursday and informed him that he is not planning to re-introduce the death penalty. “There is merely a debate on this issue” in Hungary, János Lázár said.
“A debate on the death penalty; this does not mean that there is a plan to re-introduce the death penalty”, the Minister cited the information provided by the Prime Minister for Mr Schulz.
Mr Lázár also told the press that the Prime Minister had spoken to Joseph Daul, President of the European People’s Party and Manfred Weber, EPP Group Leader. He informed them – the same as Mr Schulz – that there is a debate under way in Hungary, and the Government will comply with EU law, Mr Lázár stated.
Download
The Minister repeated verbatim Viktor Orbán’s words concerning the brutal murder committed in Kaposvár to the effect that, in the Prime Minister’s view, the three-strikes law and life imprisonment without parole have not had a sufficient deterrent effect, and we should therefore keep the question of the death penalty on the agenda. Mr Lázár believes that, in the case of brutal crimes, in particular, those committed against children, the elderly and other increasingly exposed individuals, the need for more severe retaliation frequently emerges in society. There are many people in Hungary today who take the view that only the re-introduction of the death penalty would deter criminals from the commission of serious crimes. This is something that we must talk to our electors about, he said.
“The immense outrage that is evolving in society (…) in connection with serious crimes may not be heard in distant places such as Brussels, but we do hear it in Budapest”, the Minister said. Mr Lázár also stressed that Hungary fully observes and complies with the whole of the European Union’s legal system. The EU as a defender of democracy cannot refuse any debate that concerns the lives and hardships of the people, János Lázár remarked, and stated that he is personally in favour of the death penalty but his opinion is just one out of eight million. He added: he has, however, never heard yet from the Prime Minister himself that he supports this institution.
In response to the remark that KDNP (Christian Democrats) oppose the death penalty, he said that this difference in itself demonstrates the need for a dialogue which never took place 30 years ago. At the same time, Mr Lázár does not believe that a dialogue would in any way jeopardise Europe’s core values.
János Lázár also said that the Government will review on Wednesday the application of the three-strikes law by the courts to date and the enforcement of the life sentence without parole in practice.
Consultation on immigration
The Minister also reported that the consultation on immigration will begin at the beginning of May. He pointed out that in this case, too, the Government would like to engage in a dialogue with society about a problem; the Government would like to know how the Hungarian people relate to this issue and what stance should be taken in Brussels in order to reflect that view. Mr Lázár remarked that this was not yet an issue before the elections; however, the extent of migration today does warrant a debate on the topic. He mentioned as an example that his constituency is particularly affected by this problem; in three months, the number of migrants arriving reached the number that was previously experienced in two years.
Tobacco shop owners removing cover foil from shop windows not to expect sanctions
In answer to a question, János Lázár also said that the use of cover foil on the shop windows of tobacco shops is not compulsory, and if requested by tobacco shop owners, this will have to be specifically laid down in the law. He stressed that those who do not feel safe because of the opaque shop windows should be allowed to remove the cover foil. He indicated that those who have already removed the cover foil need not expect sanctions of any kind.
The Government looks upon the protection of those working in tobacco shops and at night as a duty, János Lázár pointed out, and told the press in this context that Interior Minister Sándor Pintér will be required to table a proposal regarding the security systems which will have to be installed in shops that are also open at night.
Brokerage firms, Árpád Habony, waste management and inflation
Regarding the municipalities which “ventured” the funds of their localities with brokerage firms, Mr Lázár said that these municipalities will first have to undergo a state audit; at this point in time, the Government does not intend to offer them assistance.
The head of the Prime Minister’s Office also answered a question raised earlier at the press conference held of Thursday, and said that Árpád Habony had not undergone type “C” national security screening. This was not required, Mr Lázár explained, as Árpád Habony is not engaged in any legal relationship with the Government; “he is not a colleague”.
In answer to a question concerning the problems emerging in waste removal, János Lázár said that delegating the task of waste removal to community competence was the first step. The next step will be to help the non-profit companies concerned out of the difficult situation they have found themselves in, or to attempt to create a national network.
The Minister said in his reply to a question regarding a possible change in the debt formula on account of the low rate of inflation that the Fiscal Council and the Ministry for National Economy will have to consult on this issue.
(MTI)
