Coronavirus in Hungary – Socialists: Frontline workers lack confidence in human resources minister

coronavirus Coronavirus in Hungary Fidesz healthcare system Hungary Socialists

Budapest, Hungary. Human resources minister Miklós Kásler. Photo: MTI

Hungarian frontline workers no longer have confidence in key officials, including the minister of human resources, according to the opposition Socialist Party.

Socialist MP Lajos Korozs told an online press conference posted on Facebook that social workers and health-care staff had run out of patience with Miklós Kásler, the human resources minister.

He insisted that frontline staff had not received adequate quantities of quality protective equipment and the ministry had suppressed information on how many frontline workers had become infected.

Kásler, he added, was hiding from the public and journalists, failed to answer the questions of MPs in parliament, and had told the heads of hospitals not to provide lawmakers with any information.

The Socialist politician also berated Cecília Müller, the chief medical officer, for leaving a committee meeting before a briefing about the status of the epidemic in the capital.

Müller has stated in a letter that she had been unable to attend, citing an investigation under way at the Pesti Street elderly care home, he said.

Korozs called on the government to provide regular supplies of protective equipment to social workers and to people in care homes, and to test people working there.

The ruling Fidesz group called on the Socialists to apologise for statements made in connection with the welfare committee meeting.

“It’s business as usual: the Socialists are lying,” the Fidesz group said in a statement.

Müller, just as she has done every day for months, informws the Hungarian public about current developments at a press conference and then spent over four hours answering questions in the welfare committee meeting, it added.