A “clear majority” of the ruling Tisza Party’s parliamentary group supports the need to restrict the number of terms an MP may serve, Márton Melléthei-Barna, the group’s deputy leader, told a press conference on Tuesday.
Clear majority backs controversial bill
Melléthei-Barna said most of the group supported the proposal, which is “aimed at facilitating political renewal”. He added that while the group had agreed on introducing a term limit, whether it should be set at 12 or eight years was “a technical detail”, MTI wrote.
He said public consultations on the matter were under way and that they were awaiting the government’s proposal, adding that the measure would be introduced as a constitutional amendment.
In practice, such a decision would primarily prevent a number of opposition MPs from standing for another term, including all MPs of Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland) and the majority of Fidesz MPs. By contrast, Tisza MPs — all serving their first term — would remain eligible to stand again even under an eight-year limit.
Parliament to vote on Sovereignty Protection Office, mayors’ pay
Parliament is scheduled to vote on legislative proposals to scrap the Sovereignty Protection Office and to curb the salaries of mayors and county assembly chairpersons on Tuesday. Lawmakers will also begin debating a proposal to make documents related to communist-era secret agents and informants public.
Lawmakers will vote on abolishing the Sovereignty Protection Office under a bill sponsored by Márton Melléthei-Barna of Tisza. In line with the recommendation of the legislative committee, the office could be dissolved by being merged into the Ministry of Justice, without any obligation for the ministry to continue its functions as a public service.
Parliament is also expected to vote on an amendment to the Local Government Act concerning restrictions on the remuneration of mayors and county council chairpersons, sponsored by Tibor Szabó and Ádám Veres of Tisza. The proposal would freeze the salaries of the Mayor of Budapest and other mayors, abolish their entitlement to monthly expense allowances, and reduce the salaries of county assembly chairpersons.
IPU and secret service records
Later, the National Assembly will vote on establishing the Hungarian group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a four-party initiative. Founded in 1889, the IPU is the only global organisation of the parliaments of sovereign states and serves as a forum for dialogue and the exchange of views.
As part of Tuesday’s general debate, parliament will also consider a proposal by Melléthei-Barna to amend the law governing the investigation of the former regime’s secret service activities and the establishment of the Historical Archives of the State Security Services.
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Parliament restricts mayors’, county officials’ salaries
Parliament on Tuesday passed into law a bill sponsored by the ruling Tisza Party to restrict the salaries of mayors and county council chairpersons, with 135 votes for and 51 against. Under the new legislation, all mayors including those of Budapest and its districts, as well as the heads of county councils will no longer benefit from an annual, automatic salary increase. The law also eliminates their entitlement to monthly expense allowances, and reduces the salary of county council heads from four times the national average wage to twice that average.
Parliament votes to scrap Sovereignty Protection Office
Parliament has voted to scrap the Sovereignty Protection Office on Tuesday, with 135 lawmakers voting in favour and 44 against the proposal, and 6 abstentions.
The law, sponsored by Márton Melléthei-Barna of Tisza, will come into force 15 days after its promulgation.The law states that the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty “does not perform any actual public function” and that “its establishment served purely political intentions and interests“. Its true purpose had been to “exert pressure on citizens, certain organisations and media outlets for political purposes.“
The Sovereignty Protection Office started operating on Feb 1, 2024. It will be merged into the justice ministry, but the ministry will not be required to carry out its functions as public duties. Its president and deputy leader posts will be terminated with the law coming into force. All its employees will be dismissed, with the severance compensation outlined in the law on the legal status of civil servants, MTI wrote.
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