Mesterhazy: Socialists To Scrap Government’s “Idiotic” Economic Policy

Budapest, December 18 (MTI) – Attila Mesterhazy, leader of the opposition Socialist Party, pledged to scrap the Fidesz government’s “idiotic” economic policy and “perverted” social policy if it wins next year’s election.

Policies that support the construction of sport stadiums instead of fighting child poverty must go, Mesterhazy said, introducing the candidates of the Socialists and E14-PM in Pest County.

The Socialists plan to restore the progressive tax system, but he declined to specify tax rates. He added however that the wealthy would be expected to show solidarity by paying higher taxes, while low-income citizens will be left with more money.

The Socialists plan to discontinue crisis taxes but not the banking tax. However, he said this cannot be done overnight because these taxes amount to 720 billion forints (EUR 2.4m) of state revenues and this cannot be substituted from one year to the next. Once certain conditions are met, the Socialists plan to reduce the banking tax, he said.

He insisted that the 2014 budget would be sustainable for a few months only and the next government would have to adjust it to the pervading realities.

Mesterhazy said the current scheme to cut utility bills is not sustainable and in some towns and villages the service companies have already gone bankrupt. The Socialists plan a fairer system based on means-testing so that the poor can receive more help.

Public utility fees can be reduced in a sustainable way in the long term, for instance by installing modernised heating systems and insulation. There are also plans to cut the price of basic foodstuffs, he added.

E14-PM co-chair Viktor Szigetvari said if the opposition gain power, the government’s scheme to cut household utility bills cut would be discontinued in its current form but efforts would be made to make public services cheaper. He added that after six months of utility fee cuts, water supply companies expect net losses of 7.5-8 billion forints (EUR 25-26.6m) this year.

Fidesz said in a statement in reaction to Mesterhazy’s press conference that the left wing wanted to hike taxes and abolish the scheme to cut household utility bills.

“The failed left today has said, straight up, that they want to raise taxes and get rid of the cuts to household bills,” the statement said.

Lajos Szucs, the chairman of Fidesz in Pest County, said “Pest County does not ask for more failed economic policies of the [Socialist PMs] Gyurcsany-Bajnai period or for its corrupt and inept politicians.”

Photo: MTI – György Varga

Source: http://hungarymatters.hu/