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2nd September, 2010
Public-sector salary ceiling now in effect
The ceiling on public-sector pay is one of several new laws that entered into force yesterday, government spokeswoman Anna Nagy told reporters after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.
As of Wednesday no one may earn more than a monthly Ft 2 million in the public sector. Another change makes payment of family benefits conditional on the child’s regular attendance at school.
In addition, businesses may take out investment loans for up to Ft 50 million in the Szechenyi card system, to assist SMEs.
On other issues, the cabinet approved a detailed explanation for why Hungary is asking the EU to extend by three years the moratorium on the purchase of farmland by foreigners, due to expire on April 30, 2011.
Regional Development Minister Sandor Fazekas said the most important argument is that the price of land in Hungary is about one third to one half of that in Western Europe. He added that Hungary's endeavours are supported by France, Romania, Bulgaria and the Visegrad Four countries.
EU officials are expected to decide on the land moratorium in October or November.
Nagy announced that more than Ft 29 million has been collected from about 146,000 telephone calls for flood victims. The money will be equally divided among charity organisations that provide help to flood victims.
The cabinet also decided that victims of illegal police excesses in the autumn of 2006 will be paid compensation by October 23 at the latest. The Interior Ministry will assess claims for damages.
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2nd September, 2010
Orban opens Anti-Terrorist Centre
A well-organised, well equipped anti-terrorist centre with outstandingly trained staff is essential in a developed and strong country, Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared Wednesday as he opened Hungary’s first such centre in Budapest.
The opening of the facility is an important step for Hungary as it becomes a modern, confident nation, he added. Orban called the opening of the Centre important and highly significant.
Orban warned that one should expect groups operating in geographically remote areas and multinational terrorist organisations to co-operate, adding that in today's world wars are often waged via terrorist methods.
Gilles de Kerchove, EU anti-terrorist co-ordinator, said in his speech that Hungary is among the first countries to recognise the significance of operating an efficient organisation to prevent tragedies.
The centre will analyse the country's position as regards terrorist threats, protect the prime minister and the president and uncover acts of terror and kidnappings.
The Socialist Party said the establishment of the centre is not justified, as the terrorist threat to the country has not grown.
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2nd September, 2010
Revesz blames judges in 2006 cases
Possible wrongdoing by prosecutors and judges should be examined in connection with the large number of arrests in the autumn of 2006, Fidesz MP Mariusz Revesz told the parliamentary sub-committee investigating violations of law in 2002-10 on Wednesday.
The sub-committee heard two women who said they were repeatedly injured by police during their arrest early on September 19, 2006. An investigative judge decided to detain them without hearing them and their personal effects were taken away during their questioning.
Jobbik MEP Krisztina Morvai asked her Fidesz fellow MPs to help establish a European parliamentary investigative commission to look into the events of the autumn of 2006.
Arpad Szabadfi, deputy national police chief at the time, told the sub-committee that he had two conversations with then prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany during the siege of MTV on September 18, 2006.
He said the prime minister did not issue any instructions to the police, but spoke of an expectation that the MTV building should be defended by all legal means. Szabadfi said police had had no advance information about the riots.
Asked by Revesz about a “manhunt” in the ensuing days, Szabadfi said he was unaware of any abuses and did not issue orders to make such abuses possible, nor to encourage anyone to carry out abuses.
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2nd September, 2010
Budai lashes out at former PMs
There can be no doubt that the property “scam” related to the Sukoro casino project was carried out on political orders, prime ministerial commissioner Gyula Budai told reporters on Wednesday.
All of the claims made by former prime ministers Ferenc Gyurcsany and Gordon Bajnai collapsed on Tuesday with the arrests of the head and the sales chief of the state asset manager MNV, Budai asserted.
He said the detentions are only the tip of the iceberg, as the number of suspects could grow along with the number of politicians who gave them orders, no matter if they are prime ministers or cabinet members.
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2nd September, 2010
Fidesz sweep expected in counties
Fidesz is likely to win about 60% of the 424 county council seats available at the local elections, according to the Policy Agenda institute.
The analysis sees the Socialists taking 18% of seats, Jobbik 17% and Politics Can Be Different 4%.
Fidesz will be able to gain majority in all but four county councils where its most serious challenger will be Jobbik.
In Budapest Fidesz mayoral candidate Istvan Tarlos has the greatest chance of winning but it is doubtful whether Fidesz will win an outright majority on city council.
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2nd September, 2010
Martonyi on Bucharest visit
Hungary and Romania share identical interests as regards EU decisions about the future, Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi told a conference arranged for Romanian ambassadors in Bucharest on Wednesday.
He gave a speech about the direction of Hungarian foreign policy in view of its stint as EU president in the first half of next year.
Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconshi also stressed the countries' shared interests in the European integration process as regards a Danube strategy and energy policy.
The two ministers held private talks after the conference.
Martonyi met later with deputy prime minister Bela Marko, head of Romania’s ethic Hungarian party, and MEP Laszlo Tokes, to discuss bilateral co-operation, the interests shared by the two countries and the unity of Hungarians.
Martonyi and Marko reviewed topics of a Romanian-Hungarian cabinet meeting set for the autumn.
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2nd September, 2010
Israeli culture institute opens on Friday
An Israeli culture institute that will also assume educational functions will open on Paulay Ede utca in the Sixth District on Friday, director Gabor Balazs announced.
The centre will be the world’s first Israeli cultural institute.
The centre will host concerts, film screenings and other cultural events for Hungarian and Israeli, Jewish and non-Jewish visitors. The institute will not take a stand on political matters, Balazs said.
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