Opposition parties submit joint anti-epidemic proposal to Hungarian parliament

The parliamentary groups of opposition parties are submitting a joint proposal for measures to help the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic, the parties’ representatives said on Monday.

László Varju of the Democratic Coalition (DK) told an online press conference held jointly with Jobbik, Párbeszéd, the Socialists and LMP that the government was “clearly unable to stop the spread of the virus and handle the crisis”.

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The opposition parties’ 11-point proposal includes free-of-charge mass testing for all Hungarian citizens and emergency government assistance to pensioners and families raising children, he said.

László Lukacs of conservative Jobbik, said

health-care and social workers, teachers, patients and residents of social care homes should be screened every two weeks.

The proposal also calls for effective contact tracing in order to protect as many people as possible, he added.

Olivio Kocsis-Cake of Párbeszéd said the proposal calls for a 100 percent wage supplement for health workers and Tamás Harangozó of the Socialists said

people infected with the coronavirus and those forced to stay in quarantine should receive sickness benefits equalling their salaries.

Antal Csárdi of LMP said the state should support preparing the conditions for home office, including the purchase of infrastructure and equipment. He also said the proposal includes more effective support for part-time work.

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