The campaign dubbed “You decide on your future!” turns on three messages: “Good education instead of government propaganda”, “Green surfaces instead of concrete” and “Renewable energy instead of Paks 2”, the latter referring to the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant.

Education should aim to contribute to a knowledge-based society instead of training workers for work on assembly lines, the statement said.

Policy making should support sustainable, renewable and economically viable energy resources instead of dangerous nuclear energy. It should also advance the right to a healthy environment, LMP added.

Meanwhile, LMP board member Péter Ungár said in a statement on Sunday that it appeared the Paks project served as an excuse for ruling Fidesz to form a “new grand coalition” with the Socialists.

He cited speculation that István Kocsis, who held influential posts during successive Socialist governments, is to work together with János Süli, the minister responsible for the Paks upgrade. Kocsis headed the Paks nuclear plant between 2002-2005, the Hungarian electricity provider MVM Group between 2005-2008 and the Budapest Transport Company (BKV) between 2008-2011.

Kocsis’s presence in parliament when Suli was sworn in as minister is a sign of how little accountability the seven years of Fidesz rule has brought about, Ungar said. Referring to what he called “the grand nuclear coalition” from before 2010, he insisted Fidesz and the Socialists were again about to decide on the use of public funding together.

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

Photo: LMP.hu