First Two Months in Government

Instead of ideologies, the Government focuses on the common sense – emphasised Viktor Orbán in his speech in Parliament last Thursday. On the closing day of the summer special session, the Prime Minister summed up the achievements of the past 56 days. Then Parliament voted on important economic bills, including the Bank Tax.

The National Centre has been created in Hungary – stated Viktor Orbán. In the Prime Minister’s opinion, this term is referring to the community based on common sense. The new Government also represents people with leftist values; moreover, Fidesz has more leftist supporters than the Socialist party – he added. This is why the Cabinet is not averse to the appointment of people representing leftist values. For instance, on Thursday, Mihály Bihari, former candidate of the Socialist Party in 1999, was elected as member of the Constitutional Court.

Concerning the economy, Viktor Orbán said: The new Cabinet has disproved the taboo that it was impossible to boost economic growth and at the same time maintain fiscal stability. We are grateful to the International Monetary Fund for helping out Hungary in 2008, when the country was on the brink of financial collapse as a result of the wrong economic policies of the previous governments – he added. He emphasised that Hungary would fulfil the conditions of the credit granted in 2008, including the 3.8 percent target deficit for 2010. However, in contrast to the previous concepts, following the expiry of the loan agreement in October 2010, the Government will not endeavour to arrive at new agreements with the IMF. Instead, the Cabinet intends to consult with the European Union about the timetable of achieving one of the most significant Maastricht criteria, namely the reduction of the budget deficit below 3% of GDP.

A pivotal regulation in the package of economic acts adopted by Parliament on Thursday, the Special Tax levied on the financial sector (“Bank Tax”) will contribute approximately EUR 700 million to the Treasury this year. Credit institutions will be required to pay 0.15% of their corrected balance-sheet totals up to HUF 50 billion (EUR 175 million) and 0.5% above that as tax. Insurance companies, financial and investment enterprises will be levied between 5.6–6.5 percent, while fund managers will have to pay 0.028 percent of their asset portfolios. The Bank Tax will also be imposed in the next two years, with conditions to be decided at a later date. Simultaneously, other parts of the economic action plan announced on June 8th were also approved, including the reduction of the corporate tax from 19 to 10 percent on a tax base not exceeding HUF 500 million (EUR 1.75 million).

2010/30. week

Politics of reality - 2010./36.week
New era to come to Budapest - 2010./35. week
Act on dual citizenship entered into force - 2010/34. week
A determined EU presidency - 2010/33.week
New Head of State inaugurated - 2010. / 32. week
Offering a chance for success - 2010/31. week
First Two Months in Government - 2010/30. week
Awaiting a new action plan - 2010/29. week
Temporary MSZP Leadership - 2010/28. week
Laws for stabilisation and for businesses, 2010/27.week
Pál Schmitt to be President of the Republic, 2010/26. week
Words to be followed by actions - 2010/25. week
Viktor Orbán’s economic action plan - 2010/24. week
Urgent briefing - Hungarian PM announces economic action plan, 08. June 2010.
Extraordinary economic measures - 07. June 2010.
Trianon anniversary in Hungary, 2010/23.
Intensive Legislation Expected - 2010/22. week
State Reform and Fewer MPs - 2010/21. week
MSZP’s Ambiguous Relationship with Jobbik - 2010/20. week
Gyurcsány is Back - 2010/19. week
New Government Structure - 2010/18. week
What UK politics can learn from Hungary - Monocle, May 3, 2010
Fidesz Two-Thirds Accomplished - 2010/17. week
Before the Second Round - 2010/16. week
Fidesz Close to Two-Thirds Majority - 2010/15.week
Far-right party Jobbik makes breakthrough in Hungarian elections
Hungarian Right, Center and Far, Make Gains
During Countdown
Four Days Left - 2010/14. week
Bajnai’s Job Approval: 2.57/5
Splits in the Extreme Right - 2010/13. week
The Struggle Between MDF and LMP - 2010/12. week
Gyurcsány’s Comeback - 2010/11. week
The Hungarian Electoral System - 2010/10. week
The Bajnai Cabinet’s Performance - 2010/9. week
Mesterházy’s programme - 2010/8. week
Two diverging campaign strategies - 2010/7. week
Fidesz: Two-thirds Majority Possible
MSZP: From Gyurcsány to Mesterházy
Orbán’s 5 points - 2010/6. week
After the Property Tax - 2010/5. week
Non Parliamentary Parties’ Chances - 2010/4. week
MSZP and Pensioners - 2010/3. week
An Uncertain Equilibrium - 2010/2. week
Parties and Campaign Financing: for the Moment, it’s Only Comedy - Diplomacy&Trade, December 2009
The End of Bipartisan Party System - 2009/51. week
State Institutions Depleted - 2009/50. week
Hungary’s Budget at Dispute - 2009/49. week
Mesterházy to Challenge Orbán - 2009/48. week
Focus on public safety again - 2009/47. week
Fidesz-programme in the Making - 2009/46. week
A Four-Party Parliament in 2010? - 2009/45. week
In Eastern Bloc, Wary View of Democracy - The Wall Street Journal, November 3, 2009
Anti-Corruption - The Means to Political Survival - 2009/44. week
The Crisis of Hungary’s Left - 2009/43. week
The Chances of a Fidesz-MDF Coalition - 2009/42. week
New Civil Code Debated - 2009/41. week
Candidate for EU Commissioner Wanted - 2009/40. week
Health Care on Agenda - 2009/39. week
Awaiting a Fidesz-cabinet
Scandalous Salaries in State-Owned Companies - 2009/38. week
Unsuccessful Hungarian-Slovak Summit - 2009/37. week
Painful Budget - 2009/36. week
Pessimist Public, Retreating Extremists - 2009/35. week
Corruption on Agenda - 2009/34. week
The “Roma Issue” in Political Marketing - 2009/33. week
MSZP Starts Campaign Preparations - 2009/32. week
Personnel Reshuffles at Top State Companies - 2009/31. week
100 Days of the Cabinet - 2009/30. week
Szili, a Possible Socialist Reformer - 2009/29. week
In SZDSZ, New Chairman, Slim Chances - 2009/28. week
Guard Goes, Problems Remain - 2009/27. week
MDF, a Success from Outside and a Crisis Within - 2009/26. week
Generational Struggle Among Socialists - 2009/25. week
Hungarian Liberals on the Brink of Disappearing - 2009/24. week
Jobbik – The Rise of a ‘Multi-Cultural’ Extremism, 11 June 2009
Voters Punish Ruling Parties In Hungarian Elections - The Wall Street Journal, June 9, 2009
Conservatives Win as the Left Collapses in Hungary - 2009/23. week
Fidesz Against Jobbik - 2009/22. week
What will Fidesz Do in Power? - 2009/21. week
Opposition Presents Programme - 2009/20. week
Liberals and Radicals Strengthen One Another - 2009/19. week
European Campaign Builds on Domestic Issues - 2009/18. week
Government plans lacks public majority support - 2009/17. week
The Failed Idea of Technocracy - 2009/16. week
A Technocratic Government? - 2009/15. week
Prime Minister for a Year - 2009/14. week
Hungary’s Socialists nominate premier - The Wall Street Journal, 31 March, 2009
Leadership Crisis in Hungary - 2009/13. week
PM to Resign, Toward a New Left-wing Cooperation - 2009/12. week
Is “Olive Tree” Possible in Hungary? - 2009/11. week
Fidesz Rhetoric Legitimised by the Crisis - 2009/10. week
Small Parties Against Each Other - 2009/9. week
Govoernment Policies Under Heavy Fire - 2009/8. week
Public Security on Top of the Agenda - 2009/7. week
Minorioty Question Causes Political Tensions - 2009/6. week
Chaos in Economic Policy - 2009/5. week
EP Election Campaign Kicks Off - 2009/4. week
Deteriorating crisis, debates old and new - 2009/3. week
Hungarian Extreme Right Develops its Russian Relations - 2009/2. week