Thousands of human smugglers are in Hungarian prisons

The prime minister’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, said yesterday that there were some 2,000 human smugglers in prison in Hungary, 88 percent of whom are foreigners and 97 percent male. Hungary’s prison capacities are sufficient but such inmates pose a great burden on the country therefore their expulsion is a preferred choice, he added.

Government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkirályi said that 860,000 refugees had arrived in Hungary so far fleeing from the war in Ukraine, some 27,000 applied for and 23,000 were granted refugee status.

Concerning the recruitment of “border rangers” to protect the Schengen borders, Gulyás said over 6,000 people have expressed interest so far. The interior ministry has envisaged to set up a 2,200-strong force by September which will later be expanded to 4,000, he said.

Gulyás said that at recent talks between Orbán and the Austrian chancellor, the protection of the EU’s external borders was a highlighted topic. Austria has offered help for the protection of southern borders, he added. It was agreed that the two countries’ prime ministers would meet the Serbian president in the coming weeks, he said. It is a problem, however, that Slovenia’s new left-wing government had immediately started dismantling the fence along the Croation border, Gulyás said.

Read also: Orbán: “Hungarians are not a mixed race and do not want to become one”

Hungarian teachers’ wages to reach 80% of the average salary of degree holders?

The prime minister’s chief of staff said that talks are under way on a daily basis about an agreement with the European Union. Gulyás said there were no significant professional disputes between the two sides and the European Commission was trying to achieve an agreement that it could politically represent in other European forums. The sides will be able to reach an agreement on certain matters very soon but there are some details that still need to be clarified, he added.

It has been agreed that

teachers’ wages will be increased to 80 percent of the average wage for degree holders by the end of the current EU financial framework,

he said, urging left-wing MPs and MEPs not to make efforts to prevent the increase in teachers’ wages.

Asked about shortage of manpower in health care and education, Gulyás said that the number of physicians had increased by 7,000 since 2010. There might be shortages in some areas but in general the medical profession is staffed properly, he said. As for teachers, Gulyás suggested lifting the restrictions for their employment over retirement age.