The amendment’s retroactive effect is also in conflict with the principle of legal security, he said. The president asked for a review of the postal services law because he was also concerned about that law’s retroactive impact.

The amendments to the central bank act give the National Bank the legal power to decide not to disclose information to the public on companies that support its activities, if it judges that defending the interests of its monetary or foreign exchange policy outweighs that of the public’s right to information on publically-funded institutions.

The law also allows foundations established by the bank to be treated separately and not in the same category as “public funding” per se.

Head of the National Data Protection Office Attila Péterfalvi, said some elements of the proposed legislation violate the constitutional idea that data relating to public funds and national assets is data of public interest. He also stated concern over both laws’ retroactive effect.

Under the postal services law, the state-owned company will be allowed to keep information on its activities on the deregulated postal market confidential.

The opposition parties welcomed the president’s move.

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MTI photo: Bruzák Noémi