Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány (MSZP) believes the minority government to be a risk but also an opportunity, as making decisions are easier, but reaching consensus within parliament is more complicated, he said in a recent interview with free daily Metro.
Speaking about the previous two years, the prime minister believes the government has “done the hard work of plowing and sowing” and that now it is time for a “harvest.” He said that while wages decreased, in the second half of the year people will see their wages and consumption increase, as large investments continue and new ones begin.
Gyurcsány added that he did not “believe in” early elections, and that he thinks that for the approval of the budget, the majority can be found in the parliament. He pointed out that when his party’s former coalition partner, the Free Democrats left the governing coalition, they said it was not in its interest that the government be replaced before the end of the current cycle in 2010.
As to his opinion on Slovakia’s announced introduction of the euro next year, the prime minister opined that it comes at a large cost which Hungarians would not want to pay. “Not only should the numbers but also the quality of life be favorable,” he said, pointing out that the Czech Republic and Poland have not set a date for introducing the common European currency.
Gyurcsány expressed his opposition the flat personal income tax, because he thinks it would take away money from the poor and give it to the rich. The proposed 20% tax key would mean Ft 7,000 to Ft 10,000 minus to those who earn Ft 100,000 to Ft 120,000 gross per month, which is the wage of one million Hungarians.
Gyurcsány said the government would withdraw the healthcare law, because the country had sent a clear message saying “the pace was too fast,” and they did not support it.
The prime minister also said that he did not understand the opposition’s accusations that the government wanted to re-introduce tuition fees in higher education. He said the number of state-financed spots at universities will not be decreased. The performance of students will be evaluated each year, and those who do not perform well will have to start paying for their education, while a student performing better will receive their spot. Currently, whether a student gets a state-financed spot or has to pay can depend on one point at their entrance exam, and regardless of their performance, they will keep that spot until the end of their studies.
Gyurcsány recently said he would provide a “leftist character” to his government. He explained this as meaning that the number of health care employees assisting young mothers, védőnők, will be increased by 300 to 400, out-patient services will be taken to another 30 small regions, and day nurseries will be expanded to allow for mothers to return to work.
Looks like the “Great Leap Forward” didn’t work out for Gyurcsany. Time for plan B, “Panic”.