Bill to sell off state companies heads to Parliament

The government would open the door to the privatisation of a number of state-owned companies with a bill regulating state asset management, to be submitted to Parliament this week.

If the proposal gains a majority, it would clear the way for the sale of state gambling company Szerencsejáték, Regional Development Holding, the National Theatre and Tokaj Kereskedőház. The state's share of Magyar Posta, state electricity company MVM, Nemzeti Tankönyvkiadó, state motorway manager ÁAK, porcelain maker Herendi could be reduced, while the remaining 25% in Budapest Airport could also be offered to investors. The government cannot muster a majority vote for the sale of Szerencsejáték, Népszabadság observes.

"The government has decided to merge the state privatisation agency ÁPV, the Central Treasury and the National Land Fund into a single company named National Asset Manager, which will take over the role of managing the state's assets," Finance Minister János Veres announced.

The above story is just one of more than two dozen published today by Hungary Around the Clock, the most comprehensive source of daily English-language news about Hungary. For a free trial of HATC, click here. Hungarian news sources include Népszabadság; Magyar Hírlap; Világgazdaság; Napi Gazdaság; Magyar Nemzet; Népszava; Kossuth Rádió news and Hungarian television's nightly news broadcast.

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