He said Fidesz was exclusively interested in retaining its power and converting it into material gains. Under Fidesz rule Hungary’s health services have “tragically” deteriorated and the government has deliberately kept wages low, Tóbiás added.

Tóbiás also announced that his party has launched a signature drive for higher salaries. He insisted that no public employees should earn less than 100,000 forints a month net (just over 300 euros), while university graduates should make twice as much.

If that is ensured, he said, young people will no longer leave Hungary to find jobs in other countries. Hungary’s right can no longer resolve the country’s problems, and “it is only the Socialist Party which could eliminate the crisis caused by parties of the right,” Tóbiás said.

He added that a relevant programme for a “fairer and more secure Hungary”, would be outlined in 2016. László Botka, head of the Socialists’ national board, called for efforts to “expose the lies of government propaganda” in a straightforward manner.

Botka said that his party needs to put on its priority list higher wages, issues around the sales of state-owned land, a fair welfare and pension policy, as well as an alternative, sustainable utility cuts programme. He argued that those issues were important for millions of Hungarians.

Botka warned of serious tensions within society, and said that the political situation could change very fast. Therefore, he suggested, “we should not waste ammunition on each other”, referring to recent conflicts within the Socialist Party.

According to Botka, the government “has built its power on the fear and vulnerability of people” and is now openly “looting” national assets. In that situation the Socialists should demonstrate that “real security can only be achieved through freedom and solidarity”, Botka said.

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MTI photo: Balogh Zoltán