Pay rises will be one of the most important issues of the next few years, János Lázár, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said at the press conference Governmentinfo 68 which he held jointly with Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács.
In Mr Lázár’s view, there is pay pressure in the economy, and businesses want to see a reduction in work-related contributions. It is in the Government’s best interest to ensure that the related decisions should be predictable and stable. Pay rises and investments, too, must be equally supported, he stressed, and also indicated that they are expecting sector-specific recommendations as part of the usual consultation regarding the minimum wage. In answer to a question, the Minister said that the outcome will have an impact on the labour market already in 2017.
He answered the question in the affirmative as to whether he regards as realistic the analysis which claims that real wages may increase by 30 to 40 per cent in Hungary in the next five years. If Hungarian work force does not receive adequate pay here, they will leave the country for „more attractive offers”, he pointed out.
Hungary is gaining in strength
Compared with 2010, the Hungarian economy has gained a great deal in strength, unemployment stands below 5 per cent, and the deficit of the budget is at an all-time low, Mr Lázár said. The Minister mentioned as another goal that the duties of businesses related to the submission of their tax returns should also be reduced, but as he said, the order of taxation will not change fundamentally.
Successful red tape reduction
Mr Lázár also informed the press about the results of the reduction of red tape at the press conference, highlighting that 85 per cent of cases are administered within 8 days, in contrast to just 44 per cent in 2014. He spoke about the elimination of procedural fees, in consequence of which some four billion forints have been left with members of the public. Next week they are preparing another draft regarding the procedures which should be made free of charge as of 2017, he said.
He stated repeatedly: he agrees that workers from the state sector should be helped to cross over to the market sector. „The more bureaucrats there are, the more bureaucracy there is as bureaucrats create the legal rules for themselves, on the basis of which new offices and authorities may come into being to harass the public”, he said, stating: despite protests, the Government will reduce the number of people working in the state sector.
Hungary to send its proposals to the Slovak EU Presidency
The Hungarian Government will send its proposals regarding the management of illegal immigration to Slovakia which currently holds the EU Presidency and is making a plan „B” for resolving the migration crisis, Mr Lázár said.
The Hungarian Cabinet will propose that resettlement should not be mandatory, and further that the Schengen border controls regime should be restored in Italy and Greece. The Government will additionally request that the EU should regard the funds used for the construction of the fence on the Hungarian border „as part of Hungary’s solidarity”, the Minister told the press.
Hungary maintains its position: it is not Europe’s duty to organise resettlement, but to prevent immigration, he said.
He also said that in this struggle there is a need for the seventh amendment of the Fundamental Law on which Parliament may decide next Tuesday, after the wording of the proposed legislative amendment has been finalised. Mr Lázár asked all opposition Members of Parliament to vote for the amendment of the Constitution, and voiced hope that daily party political interests will not prevent the passage of the proposed legislation.
The Minister found it injurious repeatedly that the European Commission extended the possibility of internal border controls also on the Austrian-Hungarian border as, in his view, this is contrary to both the Austrian and the Hungarian people’s interests.
Council of Europe report a lie
In answer to a question, he pointed out: the Government takes the view that the report of the Council of Europe claiming that the Hungarian authorities did not on some occasions treat asylum-seekers properly is a lie.
The claims made in the report are not true, the Minister pointed out, who is of the opinion that there may be political bias behind the document.
The Government requested the Justice Ministry on multiple occasions to investigate the reports which seek to take Hungary to task on account of its treatment of immigrants. According to the Ministry’s position, these claims are not true, he said.
Refurbishment of metro line cannot fall victim to political games
In answer to a question concerning the refurbishment of metro line 3, Mr Lázár said: if a single person is in danger on metro line 3, service must be stopped immediately. This is, however, not a political, but a technical issue. He described the elimination of any immediate threat and the refurbishment of the line as well as of the stations if possible as the goal, adding that HUF 200 billion has been allocated for the project. If the funds prove to be insufficient, the Government will be ready to provide more help, he added. However, he ruled out the simplification of the relevant public procurement regulations with reference to an EU Directive.
„I don’t believe that any exchange of messages or political dispute on this issue – where it is to be presumed that the people’s safety is at threat (…) – would be appropriate”, he said, stressing: the refurbishment of the metro line cannot fall victim to political games. The Cabinet is prepared for the eventuality that the metropolitan municipality should stop service on the line, and is ready to help with managing the situation with the assistance of the disaster management authority, he said.
In answer to a question, he stated: the settlement bonds will be phased out. They are no longer required, and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán himself sees this as a fact.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to travel to London next week
The Minister confirmed in answer to a question that British Prime Minister Theresa May invited Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to a work meeting. As expected, he will travel to London next Wednesday. He mentioned Brexit and immigration as well as Hungarian-British bilateral relations as the priority topics of the summit. He described Hungarian-British bilateral relations as excellent, and indicated that it is well worth further strengthening them as after exiting the EU, Britain will become one of Hungary’s most important trade partners outside the EU.
Regarding hospital chancellors, Mr Lázár pointed out: there is no need for changing the system. There is a need, however, for pay rises and the improvement of the infrastructure; these are realistic objectives. There is no scope for any measure that could jeopardise health care services, he pointed out.
Regarding the enquiry that Rakamaz was awarded more than half a billion forints in EU funds for the construction of a nature trail and a reception centre, but due to the poor quality of the construction works they have not been given an occupancy permit, he replied: “This may have serious consequences for the municipality of Rakamaz. (…) The municipality of Rakamaz will be very sorry if they mess with EU funds.” The Ministry for National Economy is conducting an investigation also at this point in time regarding the first phase of the project, while the locality is currently applying for funds for the second phase, but having seen the first phase, they do not stand much of a chance of receiving funding, Mr Lázár said.
He was also asked for his opinion regarding the fact that a referendum is being initiated in Algyő in Csongrád County about a chemical plant planned to be built next to a school. He said in reply: he sees the case as a grave problem, does not support the project, and is in favour of the referendum.
In answer to another question, he also said: the Government is ready to provide assistance for the Budapest Jewish Religious Community whose synagogue in Zugló burnt down at the end of October.
The Minister said in answer to a question regarding the ties to Russian military intelligence in the Bőny police murder that the Committee on National Security must investigate the case and must hear the staff members of the Ministry of Interior. In answering the question as to whether other paramilitary organisations are also being investigated, he said that the State regained the monopoly of policing in 2010 with the banning and elimination of the Hungarian Guard and other radical paramilitary organisations. Separate task forces operating within the organisational units of the Ministry of Interior concerned with intelligence are tasked with blocking and preventing the activities of organisations of this type.
In answer to a question related to Saudi businessman Ghaith Pharaon, he told the press: the individual concerned submitted a visa application at the Hungarian Embassy in Beirut on 24 October 2014. Hungary consulted six EU Member States as to whether the granting of a visa could affect their interests, and also informed the United States and Saudi Arabia. Germany stated that the granting of a visa does not violate its interests, while the United States and Saudi Arabia did not respond. As a result, the Hungarian authorities did not have any information that could have resulted in denying him a visa, he detailed.
After this, the individual concerned, he continued, visited Hungary. “There are some confusing circumstances regarding his identity which the Constitution Protection Office and the police are obviously looking into on an ongoing basis.” He reiterated Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s address in Parliament to the effect that the activities in Hungary of the individual concerned did not violate the country’s national security interests.
At the same time, Mr Lázár indicated: Interpol confirmed six months ago that the man is wanted, and consequently, he was not detained during his trip to Hungary in 2015. “If he were to come here now, we would naturally arrest him”, he said in confirmation of the words of Károly Kontrát, State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
(MTI)
