Index – Domestic – The government is still worried about Budapest Airport
The government met without Viktor Orbán, the energy supply is ensured
After July 30, the Government Info was held again, after there was also a government meeting on Tuesday morning – as it turns out, in the absence of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is on vacation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén. During the discussions, the situation of the energy supply was reviewed, which is ensured both in terms of gas and electricity, so that it can satisfy consumer needs, and they are even discussing the expansion of strategic reserves – Gergely Gulyás explained at the beginning of Kormányinfo.
The minister explained that the gas produced in Russia and gas purchased from the West are not the same calorific value. A decree on this will also be published, the measure will be given in megajoules.
Gergely Gulyás continued by saying that the government will send its answers to the European Commission by the Monday midnight deadline.
We were able to send a written answer in which we reached a common denominator on all questions. It creates a stricter system for controlling new money and public procurement than ever before. Our goal is that the conditionality procedure can be closed and put into a form that can be signed. We hope that the constructive nature of the committee will remain.
August 20 was the last straw, the leaders of the OMSZ were fired without even being fired
Of course, one of the central topics of Kormányinfo was the dismissal of the president and professional deputy president of the National Meteorological Service. After the departure of Kornélia Radics and Gyula Horváth, the OMSZ published a resolution requesting the establishment of an independent investigation committee. About the background of the case you can read more here.
In response to a journalist’s question, Gergely Gulyás said: to the minister in a legal sense there is none his obligation to provide reasons, László Palkovics did not use this opportunity. The position was accepted. Gergely Gulyás commented on the dismissal of the leaders of the OMSZ: the leadership change would have taken place regardless of the predictions about the fireworks. He added:
August 20 and the postponement of the fireworks was not the last, but the penultimate straw, the department was not satisfied with the management of the meteorological service.
The accuracy of the forecasts leaves something to be desired – continued Gergely Gulyás – but among the most famous meteorologists there are also quite a few who think that the management of the OMSZ was not suitable for the task. The decision on dismissal will not be withdrawn, it is considered correct, confirmed the chancellery minister. He added: there was no political pressure on the part of the government, there is no need to set up an investigation committee. The minister stated: he does not want to continue professional discussions, but the criticism arises that their forecasts are generally more inaccurate than in other countries.
Who traveled to Moscow on the plane of the Hungarian Defense Forces?
Minister of Economic Development Márton Nagy traveled to Moscow on Sunday on the military plane which was first punctured by the Index. In response to a question, Gergely Gulyás said: the head of the ministry held energy negotiations in the Russian capital, and successfully so. Further details have not been reported at this time.
Gergely Gulyás: His behavior towards the EP representatives is shameful
The Hungarian response sent to the European Commission was also decisive for Gormányinfo. Gergely Gulyás considers it regrettable and shameful that the representatives of the Hungarian opposition, with a salary of five million forints a month, work as EP representatives to prevent us from receiving the money we are entitled to. Some of the bills necessary for the agreement have already been submitted, and the goal is to be adopted by October.
The Hungarian government is interested in bringing in an institutional system that, according to the committee, guarantees that public procurements carried out from the original source are efficient and free from any kind of pressure. Since this has almost always been the case up until now, there are no strictures that would be painful for us, and we have nothing to hide from the committee.
In a European comparison, nothing justifies the strictness towards Hungary, but the government is willing to give an additional guarantee to the committee – continued Gergely Gulyás. The possibility of joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office was never raised.
The committee must evaluate the Hungarian answers within thirty days, the government is optimistic about the final result. If the agreement is reached, more than ten laws are expected to be amended.
Gergely Gulyás stated: if we joined Brussels’ anti-Russian sanctions, our negotiating position would not be better.
Details of the Vodafone deal
The minister in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office revealed that the Vodafone acquisition was not postponed over other investments because there was little chance that this opportunity would have been available later. The state pays 49 percent of the purchase price. It is not negotiated how and in what form the loan guarantee is given, but everyone pays the purchase price according to the share. Gergely Gulyás also talks about the fact that a lot of the company’s income will be used for teacher salaries.
In response to Index’s question, Gergely Gulyás said: the government has been planning to buy Vodafone Hungary since 2010.
In response to a question, he also spoke about the fact that the tariffs of cable providers could be positively influenced by the Vodafone transaction, but to what extent, he could not yet say. The minister made it clear that the teacher salary increase is being negotiated completely separately, and an economic transaction such as the purchase of a part of Vodafone is completely separate. Gergely Gulyás said that one source is invested by the state and then brings money, the other is wage costs and expenses, these are two separate streets.
Corona virus, energy situation, utilities subsidy
To a journalist’s question, Gergely Gulyás said: due to the coronavirus, no tightening is expected, the government will remain with the weekly data release. The number of infections has decreased, and the course of diseases is significantly lower than at any time before. The new variants are weaker, this is what the government sees.
The filling of the Hungarian gas storage facilities is good, said Gergely Gulyás in response to TV2’s question. The amount currently stored in Hungary is 3.8 billion cubic meters, which is enough for 76 winter days, if industrial and residential consumption are also included. If it were only residential consumption, this amount would be enough for half a year.
The food supply is assured, in a good agricultural year Hungary can provide for 22-23 million people. The drought caused great damage, but not so that we could not take care of people’s supplies, added the head of the ministry.
The overhead reduction was also discussed Napi.hu Gergely Gulyás said: the Hungarian state pays HUF 200,000 per month for each meter, HUF 2.5 million for electricity and gas consumption instead of one household.
We are working to have alternative methods that can be used to reduce gas consumption and even make certain services manageable at the expense of the state. Split air conditioning, for example, is a heating system, it is significantly cheaper, but we know that it also needs to be installed. We will make sure that those who are above the average consumption can get below it, and we will announce these soon. We will have specific suggestions that anyone can use.
Our minute-by-minute coverage of Government Information by clicking here they can read.
(Cover photo: Alexandra Szentkirályi and Gergely Gulyás in Kormányinfo on August 23, 2022. Photo: Zsófi Szollár / Index)