Katalin Novák: Abarát Hungary is a goal that beats the hearts of most Hungarians in the family
For the first time, Minister Katalin Novák gave a longer interview for families, since this week Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that he would be the party candidate for the presidency of the ruling party. The politician told Magyar Hírlap that he would also work for a family-friendly Hungary as head of state.
It is an honor to be the first President of the Republic of Hungary to support the Parliament. There is a picture of this that goes far beyond my person. As the leader of the government for eight years, I have been representing the cause of Hungarians and children, which, in my opinion, is not a more important, more decisive issue. On the other hand, as a woman, I can hold this position, which is the first time in our history, and it places a special responsibility on me. Of course, I will be the president of the republic not only for women, but also for men, Katalin Novák said.
The office of head of state means that one must behave in a way that represents values that can be followed by others. I am confident that I will meet this expectation, ”he added.
The minister responsible for families also said that although he would no longer hold the post of minister from January 1, family policy would certainly be in good hands.
Katalin Novák reminded that in the new year, families will receive a lot of government support, including the personal income tax exemption for people under twenty-five, the full refund of the thirteenth monthly pension, and the PIT refund for families raising children.
Katalin Novák said about her candidacy for president of the republic, that it is more than government work.
– As President, I will equally represent that the family is a priority for our entire nation. Family-friendly Hungary is a goal that makes the hearts of most Hungarians throb together, independent of party sympathy, he said. According to him, Hungarian family support measures are being paid attention all over the world.
“One of the results of the last few years is that they have started to pay attention to us, the news of our family policy has spread almost everywhere.”
– emphasized Katalin Novák, who believes that this is why they see our economic and demographic indicators in a good international comparison. The numbers speak for themselves: the number of marriages and the desire to have children has increased the most in Hungary, and the number of abortions and divorces is decreasing. Looks like we’re moving in the right direction. Globally, we spend most of our family benefits in proportion to GDP – all with successful economic results. all this is a choice of values, a strong commitment to families, the protection of the rights of parents and children. From the outside, they see that it is possible to learn from us, but it is worth understanding what is going on in Hungary.
This has been my experience in London, as well as when negotiating with my Japanese partners, interested in the Balkans, or when watching government programs of Italian right-wing parties, Poles or the Baltic States. In these, it appears, even when it is stated, that the idea and method are taken over from Hungary. So they are not only interested in the general, but they are also taking over and trying to implement it, he listed.
Katalin Novák emphasized here that the amount is not an expense for families, but an investment. Anyone fleeing a crisis has a chance to survive a crisis, thinking long-term.
He does not believe in austerity, but badly: in “investing” in the economic, human quality of the future. It is said that we invest the most in the country in investing in Hungarian children to be born, and in parents who are expecting or raising a child, who would do everything for their children.
– Next year, we will spend 6.2 percent of GDP on family benefits, which is more than twice as much as GDP and three and a half times as much as ten years ago, only three thousand to six hundred billion forints. This expresses that we see the future in Hungarian children, and there is no better investment than to support them, he explained.
He considered the most difficult task for the epidemic to be for the government to stick to family support measures and provide the money needed for them.
– Such as the PIT exemption for young people or the special financial support of working mothers after childbirth. We fought for the high pension premium, for the thirteenth monthly pension to be recouped faster, for the construction of the crèche to keep the baby-waiting loan, the shock to get started for home renovation support. Preserving them is a struggle in a good way, as the resource must be created for them. And I said, this is a family investment in the future, just as these are expensive investments. So I basically consider the fact that we managed to further strengthen the subsidies despite the epidemic situation to be the challenge and professional success of the year, he listed.
You can also read the full interview with Katalin Novák at Magyar Hírlap.