DK: Government ‘has entered austerity spiral’

The government has announced “yet another austerity package”, Balazs Barkoczi told an online press conference, commenting on announcements in today’s government’s press briefing. He insisted that a new tax dubbed “defence contribution” was an old form of tax under a new name.

He said that government was “pretending” to levy a tax on banks and multinational companies while knowing that they would pass that new burden on to clients — “as they always do”.

“Only the left wing can provide a way out of this situation, by increasing wages and pensions, pursuing a predictable economic policy, wiping out corruption and introducing the euro,” Barkoczi added.

Ruling Fidesz said in a statement in response that forces on the left disliked multinationals and banks “being made to pay” as they represented the interests of their foreign sponsors. “The pro-war left has been stuffed with foreign money for years. They represent the interests of their sponsors, not those of the Hungarian people,” said Fidesz.