Fidesz: Hungarian government doesn’t attach too much significance to EU presidency

Gulyás said the government’s economic policy would meet the challenges of inflation and sustaining real wage increases, while the “spectacular” increase in teachers’ salaries may contribute a higher quality of public education.

Government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkirályi said a total 1,518,455 people had filled out the government’s latest National Consultation public survey by the Wednesday deadline, expressing their opinion on several issues that fundamentally affected the country’s sovereignty.

Some 84 percent of respondents returned the questionnaire by mail, Szentkirályi said.

“Hungarians, unlike other EU citizens, had the opportunity to give their opinion on issues that seriously affect them, such as Brussels’ migration plan, weapon deliveries, Ukraine’s EU membership and Ukrainian GMO grain,” she said.

Answering a question, Gulyás said it was “inconceivable” that Hungary could be deprived of its EU presidency in the second half of the year. But, he added, Hungary would be “doing the European Union a favour” by providing “a uniform government, with leadership skills and experience…” he said.

The rotating presidency “is symbolic”, and the Hungarian government “doesn’t attach too much significance to it, but it will do a decent job,” Gulyás added.

Concerning the government’s negotiations with the European Commission concerning frozen community funding, Gulyás said he was “fundamentally optimistic” but “there can be no compromise over migration and child protection.” “We are negotiating on the other areas and we trust that we can strike an agreement,” he said. “Several billion euros” could be obtained even without agreement on the two contested issues, he said, adding that a “raw power struggle was taking place”. “They don’t like the Hungarian government because of those two headings and they will only give us money when they think they have to.”

Regarding the further tightening of the child protection law, Gulyás said that the current system essentially worked, but there was no obstacle in the way of MPs to make “an even better proposal that increases efficacy”.

Concerning the upcoming European parliamentary elections, Gulyás said that “despite differences in political views, Hungary would likely end up with 21 MEPs able to promote Hungary’s interests”. He added that today, however, opposition MEPs were working “to put the commission in a position” in which it could refuse to forward funds to Hungary.