Hungary's ruling parties postpone decisions on health care

"The governing parties will finalise a long-term reform programme before June 25," Free Democrat senior official Gábor Horn told Napi Gazdaság yesterday.

Horn made the announcement after a lengthy meeting on Tuesday night, during which the coalition parties decided on another two or three weeks of talks to discuss reform issues, Népszabadság writes. The two parties said the coalition will prevail and that they will discuss the most controversial issues on continuing health care reforms at expert level as of next week.

Népszabadság also learned that the Socialists no longer flatly reject the multi-player insurance system, although its introduction will only be possible after a transition period.

Conversely, Magyar Nemzet claims that the Socialists rejected the Free Democrats' proposal of such a system.

The talks were attended by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, Free Democrat leader János Kóka and other leading coalition figures, who discussed policy modifications to taxation, education, public administration, pensions and employment Magyar Hírlap reports. The chances of a coalition split are slim, website Hírszerző surmised.

Fidesz spokesman Péter Szíjjártó later said he finds it "outrageous that the money-hungry governing parties are turning health care into a political football."

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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