Budapest, June 7 (MTI) – Central bank governor György Matolcsy has filed a civil lawsuit against opposition Socialist MP György Bárándy for impugning his integrity, the central bank said on Tuesday.

Matolcsy is demanding 1 million forints compensation, citing his right to protect his personal reputation.

At a plenary session in parliament, Bárándy accused Matolcsy of stealing. This accusation goes beyond the bounds of freedom of expression, the bank said in a statement.

Matolcsy has asked the Metropolitan Court to establish that a legal violation was committed. In addition to compensation, he demanded that Bárándy be barred from impugning his reputation in the future.

Bárándy asked Matolcsy a question in parliament on May 17 and then accused the central bank governor of stealing.

The central bank said Bárándy’s statements were part of a political campaign which aims to weaken the bank. The governor continues to reject all party political pressure which tries to violate or restrict the independence of the bank, the statement added.

Bárándy said Matolcsy’s lawsuit was proof that the central bank governor “is afraid” that the Socialists “will uncover and expose the abuses going on at the central bank”. He said Matolcsy was also afraid that he will have to explain “how his relatives were able to get a hold of billions of forints” in central bank funds under his tenure as governor. Bárándy called the lawsuit “a pathetic move made to intimidate” opposition MPs.

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