Orbán cabinet prioritises security, growth and family support in 2020

The government will continue to prioritise security, preserving economic growth and family support in 2020, the government’s outgoing spokesman told at a press conference on Tuesday.

István Hollik also said the Hungarian government would continue to counteract efforts in the European Union to distribute migrants across the continent on the basis of a mandatory quota system, adding that Hungary’s border was still under mounting pressure.

He insisted that the previous leadership in Brussels had made mistakes “not only when it comes to migration but also on economic matters”. He added that the European economy had not properly recovered since the global crisis, and it was expected to slow down further this year and next.

One of the government’s top priorities next year will be to protect the Hungarian economy and maintain its growth trajectory, he said, noting that the government is launching a new economic protection action plan accordingly.

Among measures to help households, Hollik noted the maternity allowance, which more than 60,000 couples have utilised, the family home improvement allowance taken up by more than 120,000 families, and the family tax allowance. All these measures are still available, he added.

He noted that wages have increased for the sixth year in a row thanks to tax cuts and robust economic growth.

Further, the minimum wage has more than doubled since 2010, and will increase by 8 percent on Jan. 1.

The spokesman noted that members of the armed forces and law enforcement are each receiving a bonus worth 1510 euros (500,000 forints), and health-care employees will see their wages increase by 14 percent in Jan 1. and by another 20 percent in November next year.

Meanwhile, answering a question about the Felcsút Football Academy drawing on EU funds, Hollik cited

German Chancellor Angela Merkel as saying that Hungary had made good use of EU monies.

He said EU funding is allocated based on individual competition bids, and opposition-led cities as well as football teams had equal opportunities to put forward proposals for funding.

On the topic of how subsidies for cultural activities are distributed, Hollik addressed criticism that the grants were handed out on an uneven playing field, noting that grants are given on a normative basis, through tenders and through individual grant applications.

Alexandra Szentkirályi, a former deputy mayor of Budapest, will replace Hollik from January.