Fidesz decides on bill for non-profit state public utilities

(MTI) – The ruling Fidesz party has asked the government to prepare legal amendments necessary to establish state-run, non-profit public utility companies, Antal Rogan, Fidesz’s parliamentary group leader, told a news conference on Friday.

Rogan, speaking after a three-day party group meeting, also said that by Sept. 24, the law on boosting consumer protection would be ready for approval by parliament.

On the topic of the Norway Grants, Rogan said the Fidesz group had concluded that Hungarian laws apply to everyone. “Not even money from Norway can be stolen in Hungary, and NGOs cannot steal either,” he said, adding that people should be patient until investigations by the authorities have been concluded.

He said that Fidesz would review a number of laws and regulations governing child protection and details would be shared with the public later.

Peter Harrach, the parliamentary group leader of the allied Christian Democrats, said that the vast amount of EU funds coming to Hungary in the next seven years would allow preparations for a period during which “self-support must be ensured in the area of developments.”

Under the partnership agreement signed with the European Commission, Hungary will receive EU support of 34 billion euros during the 2014-2020 period, which will enable developments in a total value of 12,000 billion forints (EUR 38bn).

Asked about another issue concerning affairs of Budapest’s central 5th district, where he is mayor, Rogan said he had no information about any investigations into either the local government’s finances or elected local officials. He said news had emerged of an opposition mayoral candidate raising charges “for campaign purposes”. Rogan said counter defamation charges had been raised.

Photo: MTI – Szilard Koszticsak