Group leader Bertalan Tóth said that the government’s “national consultation” survey failed to seek people’s opinion about such important issues as education, health care, emigration and whether they agree with high spending on stadiums.

He said the Hungarian economy was growing thanks to European Union funds while only the rich get to enjoy the benefits of tax cuts and the operation of the state costs more than in the past.

Radical nationalist Jobbik accused the prime minister of neglecting health care and education. Party leader Gábor Vona said Orbán has made Hungary a European leader in terms of corruption. “Corruption is at the core of the government and businessman Lőrinc Mészáros is Orbán’s personal stooge,” he added.

Vona said Jobbik’s initiative for an EU wage union aims to help people succeed in their homeland. In order to achieve this, wages need to be increased, he said and asked Orbán why he would not support the initiative.

If Jobbik wins the election next year, the border fence will stay intact but there will also be a border guard force there to ensure that no migrants enter Hungary, regardless of whether they are poor or rich, Vona said, referring to the residency bonds scheme.

The green LMP called on Orbán to resolve “everyday problems” and settle issues in education and health care. Group leader Bernadett Szél also urged Orbán to call a referendum on the Paks nuclear power plant upgrade project. Instead of the national government that Orbán has promised, he is involved in a permanent national consultation, she added.

Szél said a Russian code had run on the national consultation website and asked Orbán to reveal why “data showing the most personal opinions of Hungarian citizens” had been made available to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

She criticised Orbán for accusing Brussels of siding with the terrorists and said Orbán should stop calling those people terrorists with whom he would sit together at meetings for heads of state and government.

If Orbán were brave enough, he would invite a referendum on Paks instead of holding national consultations, she added.

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

MTI photo: Kovács Tamás