On the dawning of Monday, a pivotal event unfolds: the national consultation concerning the economic trajectory of Hungary kicks off, heralded by none other than Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In a prelude to this democratic exercise, the Prime Minister unveiled the questionnaires on Friday, a clarion call inviting the Hungarian populace to lend their voices, a crucial step towards the government’s embarkation on a policy of economic neutrality, endeavoring to empower its citizens.Origo sheds light on the salient issues up for discussion.
Navigating through this national consultation, the government seeks to probe sentiments surrounding economic autonomy, and the resilience of Hungary’s economic strategies in the face of EU and global pressures. For years, Brussels has endeavored to shape Hungary’s stance on numerous fronts, yet Prime Minister Orbán contends that economic decisions ought to transcend ideological constraints.
The driving force behind neutrality lies in maintaining vibrant trade relations with both East and West, aiming to unlock surpassing growth within the EU.
Among the pressing concerns of the questionnaires are the preservation of the family tax allowance and the obligation of the 13th month pension. Máté Kocsis, leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group, emphasized that priorities encompass economic growth, bolstering wages, nurturing businesses, and facilitating housing for the younger generation. He asserts that Hungary’s commitment to economic neutrality underpins the family support framework, potentially allowing a doubling of family tax benefits and the establishment of the 13th month pension as a permanent fixture.
The discourse extends to how wage enhancement could be achieved. Kocsis posits that it’s not beyond reach for the minimum wage to ascend to HUF 400,000 (EUR 989) in the near term, with the aspiration for the average income to reach HUF 1 million (EUR 2,474).
Establishing a fresh agreement with employers that guarantees wage growth year-on-year could propel the economy forward.
A significant focus of the consultation is enhancing the prospects for youth. Proposals include interest-free work credits and providing unobstructed access for young professionals entering the workforce. Moreover, the government aims to champion housing initiatives, delivering state-subsidized loans at favorable interest rates to assist the youth in acquiring their inaugural homes. Kocsis asserts that affordable housing solutions, such as the development of dormitories, could greatly aid young individuals in achieving property ownership.
In addition to housing, family support emerges as a pivotal issue in the labyrinth of Hungarian politics.
Kocsis highlights the stark contrast between Hungary’s family-centric approach to demographics and labor market issues and the EU’s inclination towards mass migration as a a remedy for such challenges. The questionnaire further solicits opinions on expanding family tax allowances, which could be realized in a phased doubling.
Amplifying the significance of this national consultation, Fidesz-KDNP Communications Director Tamás Menczer avows it as a rapid democratic mechanism, enabling governance that resonates with the electorate’s will.
Balázs Hidvéghi, the Secretary of State in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, reinforced that safeguarding free trade engagements with both East and West is indispensable to fuel Hungary’s economic advancement. Utilizing insights garnered from the consultation, the government can uphold its projection of outpacing EU growth averages.
Milán Pálfalvi, an analyst at the Nézőpont Institute, noted that this national consultation bestows upon the government a legitimate platform to assert a robust position on domestic and foreign policy matters, including contentious EU discussions. It affirms Hungarian sovereignty while granting the government the latitude to reply to the populace’s aspirations.
He accentuated the pivotal role of citizen feedback during this consultation, as the responses can metamorphose into referenda or legislative foundations. This structured political inquiry addresses crucial everyday issues, carving pathways for impactful decisions on family welfare, immigration, and economic domains.
