In the morning, Chancellor Gergely Gulyás Gulyás and government spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi reported on the decisions and other announcements of the mid-week government meeting. The most important findings are summarized based on Origo.

Gulyás said that the government reviewed the implementation of the steps taken in February. In 2021, there was an increase of nearly 7 percent, something like this had never happened before. The left took it away, while now they are returning the 13th month pension, those with children will get back their taxes paid last year, those under the age of 25 do not have to pay social security, explained the minister. The increased wages will also be paid in February, he added. At the same time, the deficit will not exceed 5 percent in 2022, the minister explained.

Regarding the storm damage, Gulyás said that the damage is currently being assessed, and the government will create additional resources for the victims. The extent of the damages will be revealed by the beginning of next week, and payments can be made within a few weeks, he added.

In response to a question, he said that 5.5 billion of the domestic gas needs of 9 billion cubic meters can be obtained from Russia if the agreement on the additional one billion cubic meters is realized.

Responding to another question, Gulyás said that the teachers' demand for a higher salary is justified. However, we are talking about a political strike, and it was an illegal strike because there was no legally binding decision, he added. Not acknowledging the fact that the strike was illegal is a new phenomenon, said the minister.

The elimination of the overhead reduction would mean an additional cost of half a million forints per year, Gulyás said in response to another question.

It would be good if the mayor showed sufficient self-control, but let's write it in his favor that he at least apologized one way or another, said Gulyás in response to Origo's question that the mayor said in an analogy that it would fit if someone peed in the holy water container.

In response to the false diploma case, the minister said: Someone who claims to be an economist and a doctor is not correct if he does not have a diploma. According to Gergely Gulyás, let's leave it to Miklós Hajnal to graduate from the relevant university, and he would have a better opportunity to do so in the opposition than in the government. In addition, he has not been able to do it in the opposition, he added.

He responded to the question concerning the left's candidate for prime minister as follows: The hatred that Márki-Zay continues is unacceptable, but he is right that a victory for the left would be a jackpot for Brussels.

The donation must be indicated in the declaration of assets, he said in response to another question regarding the declaration of assets of Márki-Zay Gulyás.

According to another statement on the subject: We are against the privatization and privatization of healthcare, which was outlined by Péter Márki-Zay. 

In response to Gulyás' question, he said that there is a criminal case against Pál Völner, and that a minister has no influence on this. I am completely incompetent in this matter, as the prosecution is not under the control of the government.

Two important announcements related to COVID were also made in the government information: One is that Hungary is also participating in the EU procurement of the drug Pfizer Paxlovid, because the EMA recommended the authorization of the drug. For now, we are acquiring 50,000 doses in the first round, which can be increased later. Finally, the vaccination certificate remains valid until May 1st, after which only those who have not been vaccinated with the third vaccination since August 1st of last year (but received the first two) will lose it.

Picture: MTI