Election 2018 – Former PM Gyurcsány sets out stall

Ferenc Gyurcsány, the leader of the leftist Democratic Coalition (DK), on Saturday set out his party’s stall, promising a new electoral law, a fresh wage agreement and formula for raising the value of pensions. 

Addressing DK’s party congress and campaign opener, the former Socialist prime minister said the first task on winning office would be to sack Hungary’s public prosecutor, Péter Polt, and join the European Union’s Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) which 20 EU member states signed up to in October last year.

Gyurcsány also promised to increase the wages of doctors and nurses by half as much again and procure 150 CT and MRI machines.

He said

the minimum wage should be raised so that it reaches the minimum subsistence level.

As for pensions, he said a formula would be implemented that would incorporate the economic rate of growth and inflation rate into the calculation for payment increases.

Gyurcsány also said a DK government would put an end to financial damage done to the state due to “Fidesz oligarchs”.

He pledged to introduce a basic internet service that would be free of charge.

Further, he pledged to restore the school-leaving age to 18 from 16 and reintroduce four-year vocational training. Moreover, he would abolish “privileges” enjoyed by church-run schools. Gyurcsány said a DK administration would revise the Vatican Treaty, and set up an independent committee to investigate cases of abuse within the church.