At its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, the government reviewed current affairs, including Erasmus. According to the government's point of view, what the European Commission is doing with Hungary is unacceptable and intolerable, especially in light of the fact that the necessary conflict of interest rules were adopted during the agreement with Brussels, and even the Hungarian government would have been willing to apply stricter regulations, announced Gergely Gulyás, the minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office this year's first Government Info.
The current Erasmus scholarships are paid by the government, so the government provides the funds for this year, if there are problems with next year's Erasmus program, the government will advance the amount.
If there is no solution to the case by then, which the government considers difficult to imagine, then Hungary will file a lawsuit at the Court of the European Union.
The minister pointed out:
According to the international databases, the number of scientific publications of the model-changing universities increased by 18 percent in one year, the total publication output increased by 13.6 percent, and the number of publications indexed in international databases increased by 16.7 percent.
Last year, the number of Hungarian students graduating did not increase compared to 2020, despite this, the number of students admitted to higher education increased by 9 percent in 2021 and by a further 7.5 percent in 2022. Academic performance has visibly increased and the application rate has also increased.
The number of foreign students increased by 65 percent compared to 2013, approximately 40,000 foreign students study in Hungary today, and the number of applications has also increased since the epidemic, mostly to model-changing institutions.
The financing of higher education institutions has doubled by 2023 compared to 2020. The accusations against Hungary are unfounded, freedom of education has not been violated and all rules have been adopted in consultation with the committee. The government hopes that the case can be settled quickly and peacefully, otherwise it will take the case to court.
The government reviewed the budget
The discussion of the amendments can begin in the Parliament in February and it is hoped that they will be adopted next month.
Regarding the economic situation, all the predictions of the experts of the dollar left have failed, because there is no economic and exchange rate collapse, mass unemployment or insolvency.
The reality is that the growth in 2022 will be around 4.5 percent, which is one of the highest in Europe, the budget deficit has been significantly reduced despite the fact that it was an election year, and the national debt has also decreased.
In the first ten months of 2022, real wages increased by 4.3 percent despite inflation. Compared to 2010, real earnings – including family discounts – increased by 77 percent, which is the sixth highest in Europe. The OECD summary examines 32 countries and found that in the third quarter of 2022 real wages increased only in Hungary.
In addition, we achieved an employment record, 4.7 million people work in our country.
The focus is on overhead protection
Since December, the strengthening of the forint is also clearly visible. In the 2023 budget, the focus is on utility protection, the government's goal is to preserve employment, protect pensions and utility reduction, and increase real wages.
The most important thing is to avoid a recession, if it succeeds, then
the utility reduction will definitely remain until average consumption, which means HUF 181,000 savings per month for every Hungarian family.
The country's utility bill increased from 7 billion to 17 billion due to the energy crisis, but the government is trying to provide solutions even in this difficult situation, and the utility protection fund manages resources of about HUF 2,600 billion. With this, the government wants to provide significant help to local governments and families. After the amendment, the budget expects an increase of one and a half percent, which also means avoiding a recession. Another goal is to reduce the budget deficit and the national debt.
The government also keeps strategic goals in mind, the amount of family allowances does not decrease, and the range of those who may be eligible is even expanded. The budget also provides for the pension increase and the increased 13th monthly pension, which amounts to about HUF 6,150 billion. The average pension in 2010 was HUF 97,000, while today it is HUF 208,800.
The EP can remain a serious institution if it settles its corruption cases
In response to Origo's question, Gergely Gulyás said: "even a partial success would be a success" in the matter of restructuring the operation of the European Parliament. At the same time, according to him, the corruption scandal that broke out in December could eat up the remaining credit of the organization.
He believes that the Hungarian regulations on the declaration of assets are good, and that the EU regulations "should be adapted to this, we will recommend this". He added: The EP can remain a serious institution if it uncovers corruption allegations and learns from them. The EP should establish stricter criteria, he emphasized.
We can rightly talk about the dollar left
The Hungarian campaign financing rules are effective, it is illegal to accept money from abroad, "if a party or politician does it this way, it is a serious problem", stressed Gergely Gulyás. He also said that it is an illusion to think that someone who gives billions from abroad has "no wishes". Since this happened last year, we can "justifiably talk about the left of the dollar".
Gergely Gulyás told the question about military development that there is a serious military development program underway, which no one makes fun of today. He called irresponsibility those previous statements - among others from the DK politician Ágnes Vadai - that "the army is the new stadium".
We stand by all countries if they want to adopt unjust decisions against them
When asked whether Hungary is expected to stand up for Israel at the UN, the minister replied that the relationship between the UN and Israel has a long history, "and we stand up for all countries if they want to adopt unjust resolutions against them".
The majority of the mayors were willing to negotiate for the sake of their settlement
In his answer to a press question, Minister Gergely Gulyás said that it is not his duty to take a position, for example, on the internal affairs of the DK, in connection with government overhead subsidies refused by some left-wing mayors. As he said, fortunately, the majority of the mayors sat down with ministerial commissioner György Balla and government commissioner Zsolt Láng so that the municipality they lead would get access to government resources.
Europe is currently going through a technological shift that results in permanently high energy prices
Commenting on Századvég's latest survey, according to which residents of the EU member states consider Brussels largely responsible for the energy crisis, Gergely Gulyás said: Europe is currently undergoing a technological change that will result in permanently high energy prices due to the transition to LNG. European people and families will suffer.
If a NATO member state gets involved, it would result in the outbreak of World War III
Regarding the issue concerning political voices lobbying for the war, that they demand Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, the chancellor minister said: Hungary has a special geopolitical situation and has the opportunity to assert national interests.
As he said, Hungary could only deliver weapons to Ukraine through Transcarpathia, where more than a hundred thousand Hungarians still live. The minister emphasized that the government's goal is to protect Transcarpathia from war as long as possible. Gergely Gulyás reminded that each government decides for itself how far it wants to go in supporting Ukraine, however, if a NATO member state gets involved, it would result in the outbreak of the third world war.
The government agrees with the demand that teachers' salaries should be increased
Regarding the new, planned strike of the teachers, the minister asked the teachers to comply with the legislation. Gergely Gulyás emphasized again that the government agrees with the demand that teachers' salaries should be increased. As he reminded, if it is possible to reach an agreement with the European Commission regarding the resources due to our country, an agreement that the left and the Hungarian left are withholding, then, according to his hopes, the wage increase could be implemented retroactively, from January 1.
Government spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi said in her answer to a question,
the results of the national consultation on EU sanctions are expected to arrive in the second half of the week.
Local governments can count on the government
The index's journalist asked Minister Gergely Gulyás whether there will be a second round of the municipal overhead negotiations. The minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office said that the government would like to have a second round of negotiations, but this depends on the development of utilities. He also said that the population can still count on the maintenance of the reduced overhead price of district heating, and in addition, if further negotiations with the local governments are necessary, the local governments can count on the government.
Gergely Gulyás pointed out that the committee's procedure was not fair in relation to the Erasmus cases that arose in the past few days, adding: The committee admitted that Hungary had legally complied with the conflict of interest rules. As he said, the situation is absurd and unacceptable, but the government hopes that it can be resolved quickly.
Gergely Gulyás said that the government aims to pay HUF 1.2 billion for these tenders by the end of January.
Regarding the salary increase for teachers, the minister pointed out that the government is happy to negotiate with the teachers' unions, but he believes that the government's salary increase plan for teachers is a guarantee.
It is unacceptable that they do not allow everyone to cross the Chain Bridge
Gergely Gulyás told M1's question that the government considers it absurd that the Chain Bridge is restricted to car traffic. He added: "With common sense, if someone wants to represent a green policy, he cannot think that this is a good regulation", since the cars stand for more than three kilometers and "puff" because of this. "This is not a question of left or right," he emphasized.
The minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office pointed out that the capital city municipality has "already partially carried out the renovation" with significant funds, however, it is unacceptable that they do not allow everyone to cross the bridge.
No clear and comprehensible opinion was received from the EU board regarding the new objection
In response to ATV's question, the minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office said that the new objections from Brussels regarding model-changing universities and the Erasmus program are not clear. The minister pointed out that he doubts the credibility of the European Commission that it raises objections to Hungary again after the changes it requested. The minister reminded: so far no clear and comprehensible opinion has been received from the EU body regarding the new objection.
In response to the question about the amount of the pension increase, the minister said: the essence of the Hungarian system is to constantly adjust benefits according to the rate of inflation.
The minister promised to speed up the process
In connection with the tender evaluation of solar panels, the minister said that there is indeed a slowness on the part of the state administration. So far, the applications received have been assessed to a disproportionately small extent, but the minister promised to speed up the process.
This is a consequence of old Bolshevik thinking
In response to HírTV's question that the DK intends to file a complaint in connection with the Erasmus case, Gergely Gulyás said: "After the leader of the DK started his political career in the mass-murdering communist state party, where they thought of law as the handmaiden of politics, that is why it appears that he still thinks that way”. Now they are talking about embezzlement in a case where criminal law categories cannot even be discussed, this is a consequence of old Bolshevik thinking.
Gergely Karácsony made a stupid and irresponsible statement during his visit to Kyiv
In his reply to Mandiner, the chancellor minister pointed out that Mayor Gergely Karácsony made a stupid and irresponsible statement during his visit to Kyiv when he said: "the Hungarian government often acts in Putin's interests".
Regarding the coronavirus epidemic, the chancellor minister said that according to the current state of the epidemic, people coming to our country from China should not expect any restrictions.
Gergely Gulyás told a TV2 journalist's question that the mild winter has an extremely favorable effect on the filling of gas reservoirs in Hungary and in other countries as well. As he said, the relatively low natural gas price is also due to this, as the demand on the natural gas market has decreased due to the high load.
The task of each member state is to protect the borders of the region
Migration was also discussed, the minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office emphasized: the situation in Europe is difficult, especially on the southern borders of the Union. He added that it is the responsibility of all Schengen member states to protect the region's borders. He also said that in Hungary this is now done by the border hunting units on the southern border, which works even more efficiently than before.
Regarding the Erasmus case, Gergely Gulyás said that the budgetary impact of the victims of the case is HUF 5 billion, which the government can advance for the victims until the case is settled.
No backtracking is expected in other cases, but the news is true
Gergely Gulyás answered Inforádió's question whether Hungary will step back or take a smaller role in organizing the European Women's Handball Championship, saying that no step back is expected in other matters, but the news is true. Organizing the European Championship involves extraordinary costs, and we would have organized it together with Switzerland and Austria, so it is expected that the other two countries will organize the sports event.
There is currently no decision on the new method of calculating the solidarity contribution to be paid by municipalities based on the local business tax - the minister answered another question. When asked about the transition of households to green energy, the minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office explained that the willingness is there on the part of the people, this can be clearly seen from the solar infrastructure, however, network development is key in this regard, this is the next step.
We do not want to see the "gender revolution" in Brussels here
When asked by a journalist, Gulyás said that the government learned about the freezing of Erasmus funds three days ago. The journalist of 24.hu mentioned a December decision in which, according to him, this decision was already included, but according to the minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office, this is not true.
He said that the government negotiated with the committee in a fair way, but they were incorrect in the matter.
When asked whether the government is willing to accept amendments that also affect this matter, Gulyás replied that the government is ready to do so, but "a clear document is needed from the Commission that strengthens the credibility of what exactly they want". "What is enough? We are interested in that," he added. The government can accept this request, but "this has not been requested so far, this is the problem".
The minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office highlighted that the government agreed all areas with the committee, 1-2 controversial issues remained, but not on this topic. Then "they still decided to look for new arguments, which is how this point, which we have already closed once, could be included".
Gulyás responded to the question regarding the amendment of the Family Protection Act that there is no chance of this happening. He noted that "we don't want to see the Brussels 'gender revolution' here".
After the negotiations were successful, the committee "frantically searched" for another excuse
The RTL Club's question also referred to the recent debate between the European Commission and the Hungarian government, to which Gergely Gulyás repeated: the Hungarian legislature accepted the amendments that the commission requested from Hungary. The minister emphasized that after the negotiations were successful, the committee was "spasmodically looking" for another excuse.
The price cap helps the poorest strata
Regarding the issue of food price caps, Gergely Gulyás emphasized: the government's perception is that it provides assistance to the poorest classes. He emphasized that as long as there is no shortage of goods and the measure does not cause more damage than it brings, it is sustainable. If it is still considered sustainable after April 30, the government will decide accordingly.
They ensure a wage increase for healthcare workers
Gergely Gulyás emphasized that the salary increase for healthcare workers will be based on their current salary. As he said, they can ensure the wage increase in accordance with the framework of this year's budget, which will have further steps in the future.
Those who lobby for six million forints a month in the European Parliament should stand on the side of Hungarian teachers
Gergely Gulyás said in relation to the salary increase for teachers: the government has implemented the amendments requested by the committee, and he is asking the left-wing MEPs, "who are lobbying the European Parliament for six million forints a month," to stand by the side of Hungarian teachers and help Hungary to get access to the EU funds due to it.
Source: hirado.hu
Photo: MTI
