Hands off pensions

Hands off pensions! Pensions must be increased, not decreased, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated in a video he posted on his Facebook account on Wednesday.

In answer to the question of what he thought of the idea that the Tisza Party would tax pensions, Mr Orbán said there have only ever been two types of politics in Hungary: left-wing and right-wing. "It's a long-standing mania of the Left, ever since [former Finance Minister] Lajos Bokros, that they want to levy pensions somehow. At the same time, the Right has always stood for the idea - and not only for economic reasons, but also out of respect for our parents and grandparents - that pensions must be increased; rather than taking away from pensions, pensions must be increased," he stated.

The Left took the thirteenth monthly pension away, the Right gave it back, he pointed out, adding that "Tisza is a left-wing party." "We're finding out ever more details about their ideas of taxation, pensions and hospital closures. They're pursuing a typical, classic left-wing economic policy," the Prime Minister said, observing that the country has already been at the receiving end of this once before.

"As regards pensioners, I have to say 'hands off pensions.' Pensions must be increased, not decreased," Mr Orbán stressed.