Election 2018 – Jobbik launches manifesto

Promising the establishment of an anti-corruption agency and a border guard as well as measures aimed at curbing emigration, the Jobbik party launched its election manifesto in Budapest on Tuesday.

Presenting the programme at a press conference, Jobbik leader Gábor Vona said his party was the only opposition party capable of ousting the Fidesz-led government and holding its members accountable.

If elected into government, Jobbik promises to sign a strategic agreement with Hungarian small and medium-sized companies. It also pledges to introduce a home creation and rental housing programme with a view to supporting young people and keeping them in Hungary. The scheme would involve the renovation of 10,000 used and construction of 10,000 new homes a year.

Further, the manifesto sets the goal of raising Hungarian wages to the European Union average.

Vona said Jobbik also wants to resolve the situation of troubled forex loan holders. It would allow men to retire after 40 years of work, an option already open to women. In the manifesto, the party also vows to improve health care and modernise the education system.

Vona said the left-wing opposition parties were focused on fighting themselves rather than on ousting the government in the April election. He said those parties had no organisational, professional or moral basis for replacing the current government.

Ruling Fidesz said in reaction that “not a single word” of Jobbik’s manifesto had any credibility.

“Gábor Vona is completely untrustworthy and will do anything for power and money, and therefore not a single word he or his manifesto says should be trusted,” Fidesz said in a statement. The party said Vona — along with the leftist opposition — had denied the existence of the so-called Soros Plan and rejected the government-initiated constitutional amendment proposal on banning the resettlement of migrants in Hungary “and thereby betrayed national interests”.

Featured image: MTI

Source: MTI