FIdesz, LMP discuss key issues at Baile Tusnad

Baile Tusnad, Romania (MTI) – Two politicians of the government and opposition discussed where Hungary’s reputation abroad stood currently and argued over who was responsible, among addressing several other issues at an open university event in Baile Tusnad (Tusnadfurdo) in central Romania.

Gergely Gulyas, deputy speaker of parliament and a Fidesz delegate, said Hungary’s international reputation was “not adequate” and said that primarily the Hungarian Left was responsible. He said it was unfortunate that it was not possible to agree on a unified Hungarian position “even on the most basic issues”.

“If Hungary had a national left it would not accept any mud-slinging directed at the government but instead would be the government’s ally,” he said on Friday, the third day of the event ending on Saturday.

Andras Schiffer, head of LMP’s parliamentary group, said Fidesz, when it held a two-thirds majority in parliament, refused to engage in any kind of five-party consultations, which did not help the creation of a “national minimum” of issues on which there was agreement. “Those in power are responsible for creating consensus,” he said.

On the subject of immigration, Gulyas said granting protection to political refugees was an international obligation, but there was no need for economic migrants.

Schiffer on the other hand said the current immigration crisis stemmed from global problems which had to be resolved by treating problems at a global level, including dealing with growing inequalities.

Schiffer criticised the Hungarian government’s economic policies, saying that it was built on the flat tax rate and a “perverse redistribution to benefit the rich”, while Gulyas said the flat tax regime has helped economic growth and insisted that the minimum wage should not be exempt from personal income tax. “The Socialists instead of raising the minimum wage had made it tax exempt,” he said.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters