Sanctions Are Bad for the Economy
The majority parties’ parliamentary groups held a meeting on Friday to discuss the most crucial issues facing the country. Fidesz MP, parliamentary group leader Máté Kocsis, speaking at a press conference, said that it is not surprising that the challenges Hungary is grappling with are connected with the sanctions on Russia. According to the daily paper Magyar Nemzet, Máté Kocsis emphasised that what was promised by Brussels when the sanctions were put in place is not what has happened.
Mr Kocsis stressed that as Europe has gone poorer, Russia has become significantly richer. He also noted that of Russia’s 158 billion euros in income from energy sales, 85 billion ‘were paid’ by EU taxpayers. Europe’s economies and households are suffering as a result of the sanctions, he stressed. Rising energy costs are hurting European economies, he reminded, noting that during the autumn session of parliament the governing parties will have to be working on ways to have the sanctions lifted.
The Consultation
The group leader announced that the ruling parties had asked the government to launch a national consultation on the issue of energy sanctions.
‘It is unacceptable that the Brussels elite has sole discretion on imposing sanctions. Asking people will be of primary importance because the longer the current policy continues, the greater the damage caused will be,’ Mr Kocsis stated.
The conflict and Brussels’ ill-advised answers, according to István Simicskó, group leader of the Christians Democratic People’s Party (KDNP), the smaller coalition party, are to blame for the difficulties Hungary is confronted with.
‘Every time we are about to make decisions about important matters that affect the future of our country, we consult the people first,’ the KDNP group leader underscored.
In response to a query from the newspaper, Mr Kocsis stated that he anticipated significant interest in the consultation and that his expectation is that a large number of people will fill in the questionnaire. István Simicskó also highlighed that Hungary’s national consultation may serve as a useful example to other nations.
