The new economic cabinet will examine the budgetary implications of a proposal and the strategic one will see if it is in line with the government’s goals. Lázár declined to say whether he was a candidate to head the strategic cabinet.

But were he to be selected for the post, he said he would work so that “government performance would not be a risk but an advantage in the election” and to prevent “damaging connections between politics and economy”.

He said he would “strike down” on those who “fail to take any responsibility and only leave embarrassing scandals behind them”. Asked about his euroskepticism, Lázár said this was his personal opinion.

He added that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán encourages him to express his personal views on such topics as the death penalty, the Sunday shopping ban or the European Union.

“Orbán is key to the 2018 election, Fidesz cannot win without him,” Lázár said, adding that in Brussels the Hungarian prime minister opinions “carry a lot of weight”.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Bruzák Noémi