The greater the Fidesz victory in next year’s elections, the greater the possibility that the party will attempt to make major economic policy changes, such as concluding a new pact with the IMF or changing the pension system, political scientist Péter Tölgyessy told a conference in Budapest on Thursday.
If Fidesz obtains a two-thirds majority in Parliament, it could even lead to constitutional changes, Tölgyessy told a conference arranged by fund manager K&H Alapkezelõ.
Party leader Viktor Orbán’s goal is that just as there was a Bethlen era, a Horthy era, and a Kádár era, there should be an Orbán era, a lasting regime in which he can shape the nation to his vision, said Tölgyessy, adding that if Fidesz obtains a two-thirds majority, Orbán cannot but begin a regime change.
Orbán will decide the week after his victory how to run the country, Tölgyessy continued, adding that the policy could be for Fidesz to follow the Bajnai policy, while abolishing a few of the measures introduced by this cabinet. This is the better scenario, he said, as the worse would be if Fidesz were to engage in a contest of economic policy promises with far right party Jobbik. What is certain is that Fidesz will have to deal with the economic crisis, or at least its after-effects, Tölgyessy said.
Jobbik, he observed, is a completely clean party, free of scandal. This is a challenge to Fidesz, Tölgyessy warned, as at least a third of Fidesz supporters are susceptible to radical parlance.
As for the Socialist Party, Tölgyessy said it lacks credibility. The party will have about 60 MPs after the elections, who are responsible for the present state of affairs and will find themselves in a very difficult position. If Fidesz wins a sweeping victory, he said, then Socialist politicians can look forward to being held accountable in a big way. Orbán will have to make good on his promises and hold the Socialists accountable in a “brutal” way, for instance by bringing up scandals at Budapest public transport company BKV.
“Orbán will decide the week after his victory how to
run the country, [...], adding that the policy could
be for Fidesz to follow the Bajnai policy, while
abolishing a few of the measures introduced by this
cabinet. ”
How exciting! What a rebel Orbán!
Monkey see monkey do.
To be honest there isn’t really an original thought, political or economical, in the entire Hungarian political system.
It will just be “we fuck up the country our way when we are in power, you fuck up the country your way when you are in power. Now where’s the parlinka it’s time for another meeting”.
And as for “Jobbik, he observed, is a completely clean party, free of scandal.”.
What ???? !!!!!!!
@ JD;
So you don’t like Bajnai and you don’t like Orban. You laugh at the comment how Jobbik is ” completely clean party, free of scandal” (which they are) so, who should be running the country? What other options are there?
justasking- as you say you are new here, do you put yourself in the Jobbik supporters camp?
I applaud first and foremost the last four/five comments because they are accurate without being
pedantic and condescending.
Now. The truth at last…..
“The government and the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) are building on two strategic realisations when planning the 2010 budget. The first is that the country’s economic situation and lack of financial trust have restricted room for fiscal manoeuvre: taxes cannot be hiked because they are already problematically high, there are no state funds to revive the economy and no further loans are available. The second realisation is that there is no other option than to reduce spending: personal income tax and health care contributions are being reduced in two stges, and the spending cuts in part facilitate these tax reductions. ”
(Budapest Times Sep 28)
This equals: Taxes through the roof and cannot be
hiked any further.
No money in central funds/exchequer.
No money in Hungary -full stop/period.
Nothing, zero, zilch, sweet fanny adams. This, even though Hungary has had at least 100 million euros of loan money.
Things have to change. Fidesz are another joke and
so is their leader.
Hungarians and their country need total reform.
How, and when, will it happen? That is their problem. Needs sorting nevertheless.
Orban Viktor is a nervous and worried man.
He should be. Russky has gone but communism lives
on in good old People’s Republic of Hungary.
I was wondering just where on this website to make such a post; seeing one refering to “economic changes” made me think this is as good a place as any.
On the BBC (where I am an occasional on air contributor) I saw the following story: “California Mulls Legalising Marijuana” at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8275794.stm
Mention is made of a long economically depressed town of Oakland, which is undergoing quite a revival due to it’s toleration of a pot industry. Marijuana was given “de facto” legality under the back door approach of medical marijuana. This allows for the legal sale and purchase with a doctors’ prescription. As a result, California is riddled with pot dispensary clinics, over 200 of them in Los Angeles alone. The BBC article also provides a link to “Oaksterdam University”, which runs classes at three campuses throughout California, teaching people how to get into this lucrative field. Classes range from how to grow (which is now legal if you are selling to a legal clinic) to starting and running a clinic. It’s a sad reflection on the American economy that this is one of the few areas where ordinary people can have opportunities and do well. Both conservatives and liberals in the California legislature appreciate the tax revenues that can come from further legalisation.
On this website in the past, I’ve suggested that Hungary consider such options. The tax windfall to the govt and opportunities for ordinary people are substantial.
(cont)
(cont)
I can well appreciate that many of you may not think that this is the way to go. I tend to be a pragmatist about such things, and feel that we don’t have a lot to lose if we experiment with such changes on a small, controlled scale. At any rate, I don’t think we should rule it out. Absent any other signifiacant job creation and tax revenue sources, I don’t see how we should rule it out.
In the past on this site, I recommended that certain enclaves, frequented by affluent foreigners (this would include expensive hotels and club districts), allow the open sale and consumption of cannabis on an at least decriminalised basis, along with taxes levied for the govt. The taxes on such a commodity could come to a substantial amount, and could be put to a lot of civic good.
Secondly, I propose that dispensing and use of medical marijuana be allowed. The growing of pot and the opening of such places of sale could generate a lot of income and opportunity for ordinary people.
My big concern would be organised crime. I would hate for that to be a factor, and the govt. would have to control that.
Prohibitionism is waning in it’s land of birth, the US. The handwriting is on the wall. Legal pot is the way of the future. I don’t see why Hungary should miss out on this; after all, our peasants grew the stuff for centuries. That plant is an old friend to us, useful for many things.