The 2010 budget bill was the focus of talks between Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and liberal opposition Free Democrats leader Attila Retkes on Thursday.
Retkes said that on the basis of the basic budget figures, he saw a good chance that the Free Democrats would support the bill. But several details should be clarified before the party’s parliamentary group gets the authorisation from the party to approve the bill, he added.
In addition to maintaining fiscal balance and creating jobs, government measures to promote growth must also get prominence, Retkes said. Bajnai promised to fulfil those conditions, he added.
Retkes said the party would like the National Interest Coordination council to get a bigger role in the public debate on the budget. The party is also calling for the continuation of suspended talks between the government and local council associations, and expects the opposition parties to be involved in coordination talks, he said.
In addition to the budget, issues discussed included the protection of homeowners who had taken out bank loans denominated in foreign currency, the protection and creation of jobs in small and medium-sized companies, the situation of local councils, public transport, the fight against the A/H1N1 virus and the upcoming meeting between Bajnai and Slovak counterpart Robert Fico.
