Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister proposes expedited procedure for higher education bill

Budapest, April 3 (MTI) – Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén has submitted a proposal aimed at speeding up the procedure concerning the higher education bill now before parliament, requesting that parliament discusses and votes on the bill first thing on Tuesday instead of Wednesday as originally proposed.

In an expedited procedure, parliament could vote on and accept the bill on the same day. An expedited procedure proposal is accepted with a simple majority.

A faster procedure in necessitated by “government interests”, Semjén said.

The bill submitted by the government stipulates that foreign universities would only be allowed to award degrees in Hungary if they also operate campuses in their countries of origin and if there is an inter-state agreement on the university’s activities in Hungary.

The proposed bill sparked protests from notable scientists worldwide and a demonstration of students and teachers in Budapest on Sunday.