Hungarian parliament to vote on law for foreign investments with security risks

Lawmakers will hold a four-day session in the next two-week period of parliament’s autumn session with an agenda that includes a vote on a law mandating the supervision of foreign investments that potentially harm Hungarian security and a debate on the Fidesz resolution condemning the Sargentini report.

Today’s sitting will start at 1pm with lawmakers addressing parliament ahead of the agenda, followed by interpellations and immediate questions.

On Tuesday, MPs will vote on the law covering foreign investments with security risks.

Originally the law was set to come into force on Oct. 1 but parliament’s legislative committee on Thursday postponed the date to Jan. 1, 2019 to allow for “appropriate preparation”. The law will make investments from outside the European Union and the European Economic Area in the areas of national security, public security and those affecting economic and public health interests dependent on clearance from the interior minister. Such fields will include weapons manufacturing, financial services, the energy industry and electronic communications.

Also on Tuesday, a general debate is scheduled on the government’s second climate change strategy concerning the 2017-2030 period with an outlook up to 2050.

A State Audit Office annual report on 2017 will also be heard on this day.

On Wednesday, MPs will debate the a resolution put forward by Fidesz and its ruling ally, the Christian Democrats, on the Sangentini report. If the document is approved, parliament will instruct the government to reject the report’s allegations against Hungary and take legal action against the document, which the Hungarian government maintains was approved fraudulently.

On the fourth day of the sitting on Monday Oct. 8, members of the government will field questions.

The autumn session is scheduled to conclude in the second week of December.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI