Citing press reports on Monday, the Hungarian Liberal Party said that “the government is planning to ban civil groups from distributing meals” to the poor. The human resources ministry said reports that the government was preparing to pass a decree tightening legal regulations on meal distribution, to allow only state, local government, and churchfunded organisations to distribute hot meals, were incorrect.

Contrary to those reports, the government has earmarked “an unprecedented” 34 billion forints (EUR 109.2m) towards food distribution programmes for the homeless, elderly, the disabled and poor families with young children, the ministry said. It noted that in 2016, soup kitchens handed out an average of more than 85,000 meals a day.

Under a 4 billion forint programme launched last December, some 4,000 homeless people will receive one hot meal every weekday over a period of four years, the ministry added. In addition, homeless people have access to soup kitchens at 86 locations, they said.

The Párbeszéd (Dialogue) party also commented on the reports and accused the government of trying to “hide poverty” in Hungary by barring NGOs and political parties from distributing meals. Speaking at a press conference ahead of a food distribution event, Párbeszéd board member Márta Naszályi called the draft decree that had appeared in the press “inhumane and outrageous”.

She said food distribution events were “silent protests” against the “mendacious government propaganda that claims that all is well in Hungary”.

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