CABINET CRISIS BECAUSE OF MINISTER OF ECONOMY

A document in the possession of Magyar Nemzet may be the clue to the decision of Premier Medgyessy to dismiss István Csillag, Minister of Economy in spite of the protest of the Alliance of Free Democrats.

It seems in the background of the dismissal there is the construction of M6 motorway and the selection of the possible winner of the tender. Experts have sent a report to the Prime Minister about the winner saying that there is a too great financial risk in the offer. The Prime Minister has asked István Csillag to postpone the announcement of the winner but the Minister of Economy in spite of the request announced the result of the tender on August 6 naming a consortium, M6DA to build the M6 motorway section between Érd and Dunaújváros for HUF 125 billion.

The report of the experts warns the Premier that the winning bid does not want to renovate bridges and other objects in the period of the concession and gives a too short time to renew the old asphalt which is impossible to be done in six months. The consortium has three members, two of them have had no capacity, basis, or organizational practice in road construction while the third member has not made almost any roads so far in Hungary which means at least two months’ delay.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó