The main opposition Socialists said on Monday that the planned introduction of a financial transactions tax is unacceptable because it will most burden the poor and not speculators.
Deputy group leader Istvan Jozsa said that instead of introducing the new tax, which is expected to be approved by parliament later on Monday, the government should improve economic performance.
Radical nationalist Jobbik said the effect of introducing the new tax will be contrary to what the government expects. In addition to making Hungarians poorer, it will hinder economic performance and also hold back corporate lending, deputy group leader Janos Volner said.
LMP lawmaker Andras Schiffer said in the debate that the tax was levied on financial transactions indispensable for the real economy, while interbank and securities market operations would be exempted, which would lead to more speculation. “Fidesz has sided with the speculators,” Schiffer said.
Gabor Scheiring, another LMP lawmaker, said in a statement sent to MTI that “the government majority should withdraw the tax and redesign it”.
Scheiring called the transactions tax “unjust and amateurish” and insisted that it would heavily weigh on everyday payments of residents and small ventures.
