New excerpts of notorious Gyurcsány speech released
Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány yesterday released part of a speech he made in May to Socialist caucus members at the government resort in Balatonőszöd, Lake Balaton, without swearing according to media reports.
Gyurcsány outlined the challenges ahead, such as streamlining state administration, health and local government reform. He warned that Ft 1,000 billion budget readjustments are needed, possibly meaning a major fall in real wages over the next 18 months, caused by a rise in social insurance contributions, inflation from VAT hikes, and changes to state subsidies. Gyurcsány also spoke of freezing nominal wages for civil and public service employees, and dismissing 10% of civil servants.
Later in the day Gyurcsány told cabinet members and the media to face facts: "we will endeavour to consult as broadly as possible, but will not be deterred from implementing the convergence programme."
Fidesz caucus leader, Tibor Navracsics, subsequently called on Gyurcsány to apologise "for months of suppressing details of the austerity measures to come."
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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