Tax for being single? Christian democrats removed its own suggestion

Based on a Facebook post, hvg.hu reported that the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) would like to discuss the idea of a tax paid for being single. The envisaged tax would apply to anyone above 30. They also had the idea of making it compulsory for women, who work in the public sector in a managing position, to have at least three children.

The Budapest section of the Young Christian Democratic Union (IKSZ) initiated a debate to stop the population decline in Hungary, because they believe it’s outrageous that 52% of the people between the ages of 20 and 39 are childless, and 88% of the women in the category are unmarried. The debate would have been based on Dr. József Benda’s book who is a regular at KDNP meetings. Later the national section of IKSZ announced that they by no means support the idea the “single tax” (if anything, they support tax reduction), and the idea was formed by the Union’s District I section. The debate’s Facebook event was also canceled.

The main point of the debate would have been to find ideas to stop the population decline and increase the number of marriages. Also, one of their suggestions was that the government should support people on their journey to find a partner and contribute to the costs of dating. Likewise, the government should support those married couples who are having trouble with their relationship in order to prevent divorces.

The most criticized point of the future debate was the idea of introducing a tax for being single and childless after the age of 30. According to the comments, this would seriously interfere with the private sphere of people and the government would have too much say in how people live their lives; also, not everyone is lucky enough to find the love of their life before they turn 30. Several comments mentioned that having a fake marriage might get common which is not exactly what KDNP had in mind.

Several people were wondering why the KDNP supported Benda would only require the women to have at least three children if they want to work in the public sector.

One of the members suggested that younger people should volunteer to help families with three or more children, be part of their lives, and their happiness. The ideas should be spread by the media.

László Benda also responded to the (already removed) Facebook comments. He asked the doubtful people: what are they afraid of? Hungarians or their children? Benda added that their fear of “children” refers to a Biblical scene – referring to child Jesus Christ who was persecuted by Herod.

Copy editor: bm

Source: hvg.hu