Socialists set up anti-corruption transparency working group

Budapest, March 16 (MTI) – The Socialist Party on Wednesday set up a transparency working group aimed at “putting an end to institutionalised government theft” of public funds and corruption, the Socialist deputy head of parliament’s legislative committee said.

Gergely Bárándy told a press conference that the working group will aim to end corruption by forcing the government to ensure access to information of public interest.

He said the party’s reason for setting up the working group was that the embezzlement of public funds “has become a national issue”.

The government is constantly submitting bills to parliament with the sole purpose of keeping the details of spending public money secret.

He said corruption cases should normally be investigated by the prosecutor’s office, which has not launched any probes into government spending.

Responding to a question, Barandy said the working group will “most definitely” look into the contracts on the planned upgrade of the Paks nuclear power station, the business dealings of energy trader MET as well as spending by the central bank.