Fidesz lawmaker Antal Rogán said the ruling parties had been “restrained and generous” in the negotiations, adding that the opposition parties had been given a higher number of positions on various committees than justified by the size of their parliamentary groups.

The new parliamentary structure could be officially set up at the assembly’s first session on May 6. Opposition leaders broadly welcomed the arrangements. Socialist leader Attila Mesterházy noted his party would delegate a deputy speaker and two notaries to the next assembly, and a vice president to the Inter- Parliamentary Union, while it would also chair the national security and budget committees.

Based on what was said during the talks, Mesterhazy assumed that parliament in the future would retain its schedule of weekly sessions.

Gábor Vona, leader of the radical nationalist Jobbik party, noted the agreement to establish employment policy and job creation committees “under pressure” from the opposition parties.

Apart from this business promotion committee, Jobbik will also chair the cultural committee. The deputy chairman of Jobbik said a compromise was needed on the issue of membership of the parliamentary committees, and for this reason Jobbik had given way on the chairmanship of the national security committee. He noted that Jobbik would have six deputy chairman posts.

The opposition LMP party will chair the sustainable development committee.

The opposition E-PM is inviting all parties that have lists for the upcoming European Parliamentary election to a public debate, the party’s co-chair, Benedek Jávor, said, adding that Jobbik candidates were also welcome to the debate because E-PM believe their arguments would be “swiped off the table through debate and reason.”

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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