Socialists propose referendums for ‘protection of public funds’

Socialists MSZP Hungary
Budapest, 2018. június 27. Tóth Bertalan, az MSZP vezérszónoka, pártelnök felszólal a 2019. évi központi költségvetés általános vitájában az Országgyûlés plenáris ülésén 2018. június 27-én. MTI Fotó: Koszticsák Szilárd

The opposition Socialists will propose two referendums “for the protection of public funds” in the coming days, the party’s head and group leader said on Friday.

The Socialists want parliament to oblige the government to join the European public prosecutor’s office and to have government spending on communications distributed on the basis of readership and viewing figures, Bertalan Toth said citing a decision made by the party board on Thursday.

Ruling Fidesz has demonstrated “an aversion to” joining the European public prosecutor’s office, he said. Public monies are “getting lost everywhere” and no matter how many times this is reported, the Hungarian prosecutor’s office refuses to take action, he added.

The government spends tens of billions of forints on communications and the benefits are only “enjoyed by the friends of Fidesz”, he said.

The Socialists want this money to be distributed more evenly, in a way that reflects how many viewers and readers the media outlets attract.

Source: MTI

Tags