Hungarian EU Commissioner Navracsics & Deutsch On Internet Tax Debate

  • 30 Oct 2014 8:00 AM
Hungarian EU Commissioner Navracsics & Deutsch On Internet Tax Debate
Newly appointed Hungarian EU commissioner Tibor Navracsics on Tuesday declined to judge a debate about the planned introduction of the internet tax in Hungary. The government and the opposition agree insofar that everyone should be given access to the internet, which should be let expand unhindered, he told commercial channel ATV.

Navracsics, who will take office as European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport on November 1, said that it was not his duty to pass judgment on a Hungarian domestic political issue.

He added that even in his past post as justice minister, he tried to refrain from expressing an opinion on bills before they were passed by parliament.

He said that the protest against the internet tax which coincided with the interview was part of the debates that characterise a civil democracy.

MEP Tamás Deutsch said on Wednesday that the recent demonstrations are proof that Hungary has a well-functioning European-styled democracy where everyone can exercise their right of assembly without any restriction to express an opinion.

The European lawmaker, of ruling Fidesz said he continued to oppose the motion for taxing internet use but added that the proposed amendments had radically changed the content of the original draft.

Deutsch criticised Neelie Kroes, the outgoing digital agenda commissioner, for encouraging Hungarians to attend protests against the tax.

He said Kroes had the most harshly violated political neutrality, something expected from all commissioners.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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