Given the economic upheavals following the pandemic and the war, new economic solutions were needed to put the country back on the right track, he said during a break of the two-day Fidesz-Christian Democrat group meeting in Esztergom, in northern Hungary.

Hungary's economic outlook "is good", he said, adding that the proposed new measures would further strengthen the economy and people's prosperity.

At the same time, "the European leadership is waging a trade cold war", isolating itself from the economies of East, he said, adding that "Hungarian neutrality" was best served by openness towards both East and West, and it should break off trade ties neither with the West nor the East.

Fidesz, Kocsis said, believed in the government's policy outlook, but when it came to sensitive issues at hand it always sought out the views of the public.

Kocsis said the public must have a say on whether they concur with "the economic isolation represented by the Brussels leadership", or whether they wanted "free-flowing Eastern and Western commercial and economic pathways" to be maintained.

They should also be asked about support for small and medium-sized enterprises, the government's key aim to help SMEs gain access to capital and new financial instruments.

Also, one of the questions concerns a wage rise which requires a new deal with employers, as well as pushing up the minimum wage to 400,000 forints (EUR 1,000) and the average wage to 1 million forints "within the foreseeable future" -- which he called a "realistic goal".

Meanwhile, the questionnaire will canvass views on whether young people taking up a job should receive an interest-free loan for whatever purpose they see fit.

The government wants create affordable new places of residence such as dormitories and to help young people buy their first home using state-subsidised loans with very low interest rates. This will also be contained in the survey, he said.

Further, a question about family support will be included, Kocsis said, adding that not only did the Hungarian right and left disagree on this, but the government and the European Commission were also at loggerheads over the issue.

The government wants to double the family tax allowance and other types of family support "may also be discussed".

Kocsis said it was possible that the government would consider the party group's proposal at its meeting this week.

He said the proposed measures were unlikely to be met with "a roar of applause" in Brussels, so it was necessary to get solid backing for them from Hungarian citizens.

MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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