Coronavirus – Opposition parties call for different mix of economic measures
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Opposition parties called for implementing a mix of economic stimulus measures different from the ones announced by the head of the Prime Minister’s office on Saturday.
Socialist lawmaker Ágnes Kunhalmi called for a proportionate and less selective “left-wing” package of measures that are more effective in terms of solidarity and preserving competitiveness.
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The Socialists welcome the 500,000 forint bonus pledged to be paid in the summer to health-care workers whom Kunhalmi said should receive it right away instead.
The party proposes further wage increases for health-care and social sector workers, she told an online press conference on Facebook.
It also proposes further measures that include setting a minimum payment of 100,000 forints as an unemployment benefit and extending its eligibility period from 3 months to 9, increasing pensions by at least 6.5 percent instead of 2.8 percent and allowing early retirement for employees over the age of 60.
The Socialists further propose a government takeover of 75-80 percent of wage payments for business sector employees and introducing a moratorium on layoffs, as well as centrally setting a fixed price for basic foodstuffs, protective gears and disinfectants, she said.
Green LMP also welcomed the one-off payment to health workers, but called for a 50 percent general wage increase in the sector.
The party called on the government to terminate “luxury investments” such as the large-scale Liget museum quarter project in Budapest’s City Park or the billions of forints’ worth of state support going to the Hungaroring company and to spend the money on combatting the coronavirus outbreak.
LMP is also calling for more support and supplies for local governments that are “on the frontline” of the efforts to contain the virus, lawmaker Antal Csárdi told an online press conference.