TAX REFORM AFTER ELECTIONS?

Instead of reducing burdens the government gives a middle-distance plan.

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány has announced that the government will start a tax reform implemented in the next five years. According to János Áder, faction leader of Fidesz the plan is needless because after May 2006 the Premier of Hungary will not be Mr Gyurcsány. Recently the Minister of Finance has recognized that the tax reduction promised in 2002 will be postponed after this cycle. The Premier announced the plan of a general tax reform on Saturday when the committee of the Hungarian Socialist Party had a session. He claimed there were no promises of a general tax reform in the election programme of the party. He criticized Fidesz calling its policy ’unscrupulous’. He said in early July he would announce the next steps in agricultural policy, in August a general plan of a new regional policy will be announced.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó