The ruling Fidesz party move to classify Paks data for 30 years

Budapest, March 3 (MTI) – Lawmakers on Tuesday voted to classify some data in contracts on the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant for a period of 30 years rather than 15.

MPs voted with 130 in favour and 62 against the motion to extend the period during which the data is classified.

Hungary is taking out a 10-billion-euro loan from Russia for the upgrade of its sole nuclear power plant which is being undertaken by Rosatom.

The classification harshly criticised by the opposition affects business and technical data in contracts signed between selected Russian and Hungarian organisations and subcontractors, the implementation agreements, and data that formed the basis of decisions during the preparation of the agreement.

The ruling Fidesz party said the Paks expansion would serve energy security and so any attacks directed against the project were actually directed against Hungary. Making the documents confidential serves Hungary’s national security, they added.

The opposition Socialists said in a statement that Fidesz acted like a criminal organisation when it approved “the law on which the greatest corruption case of Hungarian history will be based and concealed”. According to estimates, it will enable the theft of 400-500 billion forints, it added. By making the Paks investment classified, the Fidesz group has earned the title of most corrupt party group of all time, the Socialists said.

The opposition Democratic Coalition said the next government would have to lift the classification of data concerning Paks. It is unclear whether the 30 years start at the completion of the project or on the date when the contract is fulfilled, so in practice it could mean “sixty to a hundred years” from now, deputy leader Laszlo Varju told a press conference. The Russian loan to be taken out for the Paks expansion project will entail serious risks to Hungary, he said.

The PM party said the government “wanted to make a gigantic heist legal and delay the possibility of getting caught” by Tuesday’s vote on classification for 30 years. Co-chair Timea Szabo told a press conference that Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Fidesz group “will not avoid going to prison.” She added that the classification of data is against the constitution, the law on access to information in environmental issues and also contradicts the Aarhus convention on public participation.