Government parties to stay away from extraordinary parliamentary session on coronavirus protection

The allied ruling Fidesz and Christian Democrat parties will not participate at today’s extraordinary parliamentary session, initiated by the opposition to discuss the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The session proposed by the opposition Jobbik, Democratic Coalition, Socialist, LMP and Parbeszed parties is scheduled for later on Monday.

In a statement sent to MTI, Fidesz called the proposal a “political bluff … another tool to attack the coronavirus protection efforts”.

If the opposition “truly cared about a successful fight against the pandemic, they would recall … [Socialist MP] Lajos Korozs from heading parliament’s welfare committee, they would refrain from insulting health-care workers and would raise their voices regarding the failed Brussels vaccine procurement process,” the statement said.

Last Thursday, the opposition parties said the extraordinary session would discuss proposals to set up three ad-hoc committees to look into the government’s economic measures, issues around handling the epidemic in Hungary, as well as vaccine purchases from China.

As we wrote yesterday, a couple of hundred people gathered at Budapest’s Heroes’ Square to demonstrate against coronavirus-related restrictions affecting businesses on Sunday afternoon. Most demonstrators at the event organised on Facebook were wearing masks. Police presence was heavy at the site with the authorities checking several people’s IDs. Read more HERE.