Parliament‘s legislative committee has approved amendments to Hungary's laws governing tax, the right to privacy, public assembly, and election rules.
According to MTI, the new tax amendment would raise excise duty on cigarettes and tobacco in two phases, in September and then in January, so as to fall in line with the relevant EU minimum tax rate.
Another change affects the special migration-related tax covering financial support of the operation of organizations based in Hungary that facilitate migration.
The committee’s Fidesz majority also proposed changes fortifying the bill on privacy to ensure that private or family-related activities and data cannot be regarded as public affairs.
Meanwhile, internet privacy protections are beefed up by stating that personal data provided via the internet to private individuals can only be used with the explicit consent of the person concerned.
The Committee also approved a proposal to clamp down on misuses of the right of assembly, penalising anyone who organizes a meeting without the consent of the property owner as well as people present at such a meeting.
Committee members also approved a cardinal law concerning elections that would expand the law on local councils to allow disciplinary measures against the head of a local election office in the case of breach or neglect of duty.