Fidesz is about to reduce VAT for basic food items

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held his traditional state-of-the-nation speech on 22 February in Budapest, providing a comprehensive assessment of the past year’s achievements and paving the way for future steps of the country.

“Hungary is performing well, better than before and is more successful in tackling the crisis than most European countries,” he said. Among the achievements he mentioned reducing everyday burdens for residents, improving lobbying positions, providing support for families and pensions as well as enhancing respect for work. Boosting the police force, curbing superfluous spending, improving health-care and social inclusion programmes are also areas where significant progress has been made, he added.

The Prime Minister stressed above all that Hungary’s budget deficit will remain below 3 per cent in 2013, recalling that the country had successfully reduced public debt in 2012 and it keeps its finances under control.

Viktor Orbán said the goals of the next 20 years have been laid down and they include putting an end to the country’s financial and energy dependence, rescuing those indebted in foreign currency and stopping the population decrease. Hungary’s economy should be among the thirty most competitive ones, regional multinationals should contribute to strengthening the economy and public debt should be reduced below 50 per cent of GDP, he said. Furthermore, all Hungarians should be able to find work at home and more Hungarian universities should be among the top 200 in the world.

Enhancing Hungarian people’s living standards is of primordial importance for the Government. In such an aim, the implementation of the job protection plan would continue and a new one to help wage-earners will be launched.

(Prime Minister's Office)