The finance minister said proposals submitted by the leftist opposition to next year’s budget would increase spending by HUF 4,600 billion (EUR 11.5bn) and require tax hikes amounting to HUF 3,240 billion.
In a Facebook post, Mihály Varga said the 436 opposition proposals would involve changes worth approximately the same amount the government would allocate for family assistance, and the utility cut protection and defense funds. The leftist opposition would increase the public burden by HUF 3,240 billion, the proposals including the introduction of a “carbon tax” of HUF 200 billion, as well as a corporate tax increase aimed at collecting an extra HUF 2,360 billion, Minister Varga said. According to the minister, the opposition proposals are aimed at “eating up” budget reserves, by spending HUF 1,900 billion as opposed to the originally reserved HUF 1,260 billion. “Our purpose is to preserve our achievements and maintain stability even amid a wartime crisis,” Minister Varga said, adding that passing the opposition proposals into law would result in a higher deficit and state debt.
Photo credit: Facebook/Varga Mihály