Hungary’s Ruling Party Fidesz Supports Drug Tests For Children

  • 9 Dec 2014 8:00 AM
Hungary’s Ruling Party Fidesz Supports Drug Tests For Children
Fidesz supports communications director Máté Kocsis’s proposal for mandatory drug tests for children aged 12-18, as well as politicians and journalists, under certain conditions, caucus leader Antal Rogán told reporters after the party MPs met on Monday.

He said problems caused by drugs are real and screening can protect children in the view of the vast majority of the caucus.

He added, however, that the proposal would be modified before a bill is drawn up, to stipulate that only the parents of the children would be informed of the results of the drug tests and that there would be no legal consequences of a positive test.

Rogán said anyone who opposes the idea is supporting illegal drugs.

He said the Justice Ministry will be consulted on how compulsory drug tests may be extended to politicians and journalists, adding that the bill could be drafted by February.

Several people in Fidesz reportedly fear that the subject may be a public relations failure for the party.

The Justice Ministry considers the known details about the drug test “murky”, primarily because there is no register of who qualifies as a journalist, Népszabadság was told.

It could also be unconstitutional that the test would be made compulsory according to occupation.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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