ON THE RECORD

NEW YEAR DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION IN BUDAPEST

Relations between countries and dialog between nations cannot be based on lies or denial of the truth. That is according to Hungarian President János Áder, who received members of the diplomatic corps at the Palace of Arts (Müpa) Budapest early January. At the opening ceremony of the traditional diplomatic event, the head of state said that in the past ten years, he represented the values that he considers important as a Hungarian, as a man who cares for future generations, as a father of a family and now also as a grandparent – should they concern the confession of the past, the debates of the present or responsibility for the future, he added. In his speech, János Áder thanked diplomats and the countries they represent for being his partners in countless places and ways, such as in accepting, speaking and representing the truth. At the end of his speech, he quoted the words of Robert Schuman, one of the founders of European integration and former French Foreign Minister: "World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it."

HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SET FOR APRIL 3

President János Áder called the parliamentary elections for April 3, 2022, which is the earliest possible date for the election to be held, according to the law. The 7.8 million or so voters residing in Hungary must receive notification of their inclusion in the electoral roll by February 11. The official campaign starts on the 50th day before the election, i.e. February 12, which means that the funds that can be used for this purpose are allowed to be spent during this period. In a single-round election of the 199 members of parliament, 106 of them will be voted in from individual constituencies with the rest coming from party lists. In single-member constituencies, the law requires that candidates collect at least five hundred recommendations from voters living in the constituency and present them to the constituency electoral commission until February 25. A party that has nominated an independent candidate in at least 71 single-member constituencies in at least fourteen counties and the capital may put forward a national list. National minority self-governments may also set up a list of their own.

GOVERNMENT PUTS A CAP ON THE PRICE OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS

The Hungarian government has decided to freeze the prices of seven products – granulated sugar, wheat flour, sunflower oil, pork legs, chicken breast, chicken rump back and 2.8% cow's milk – from February 1 at the same level as they were on October 15 last year. According to PM Viktor Orbán, the government would protect families with this measure but economists have calculated that the price freeze would have a negligible effect on family budgets.

The Prime Minister was of the view that his government “managed to curb the rise in petrol prices, we have introduced an interest rate freeze on mortgages, and we have a policy of reducing the cost of energy, so Hungarian families are getting energy at a fixed price, and this protects them.” In his response, the candidate for prime minister by the united opposition, Péter Márki-Zay said that "Viktor Orbán's announcement is an admission that the Hungarian economy is in a tragic state. The miserable government that starts to deal with the price of goods in the last 12 weeks of its 12-year period of governing with a two-thirds majority must go. In the event of a change of government, VAT on basic foodstuffs would be capped at 5%.”

WARNING STRIKE BY HUNGARIAN TEACHERS

On January 31, more than 20,000 teachers took part in a nationwide teachers' strike, which is "a celebration of democracy in education," the president of the Teachers' Trade Union (PSZ), Zsuzsa Szabó said. At a joint press conference with the Democratic Trade Union of Teachers (PDSZ), she added that "we can be proud of the teachers because they have set an example". She also noted that "no matter how much energy the government put into preventing the strike, it was achieved.” The PSZ president also stressed that there was a big problem in education, especially concerning low wages for teachers and other staff in public schools and if it continued like this, there would be no teachers to teach children, "our children would have no future, this society would have no tomorrow." She stated that a general walkout was planned for March 16 if no agreement could be reached with the government on their demands. The opposition parties have expressed their sympathy, solidarity with – and support for – the demands of the teachers while the governing party Fidesz issued a statement calling the strike a "campaign action by the left."

UPCOMING NATIONAL DAYS February 6 New Zealand National Day 15 Serbia National Day 16 Lithuania National Day 23 Japan National Day 24 Estonia National Day 25 Kuwait National Day 28 Egypt Independence Day

March 1 Bosnia&Hercegovina National Day 3 Bulgaria National Day 6 Ghana Independence Day 15 Hungary 17 Ireland 20 Tunisia 21 Namibia 25 Greece National Day Independence Day Independence Day Independence Day National Day

HOUSE OF HUNGARIAN MUSIC INAUGURATED

The House of Hungarian Music has been inaugurated in the City Park in Budapest, opening its doors to the public with concerts, an interactive exhibition, a creative music space and music education activities. András Batta, the managing director of the institution was of the view that Japanese designer Su Fujimoto was inspired by nature and music, which is reflected in the design of the house. He added that children coming to the House of Hungarian Music will surely try out the musical playground built next to the house, but in fine weather, the outdoor stage will also be open to the public. As for the concert program, he stressed that representatives of a wide variety of genres will be invited, so the Hungarian House of Music will not simply be a musical institution, but the heir to the former atmosphere of the City Park, a real "music pavilion" in the middle of the park. On the apropos of the opening, environmentalists called attention to the loss of green space during the construction, while opposition figures reminded that the government interfered with local regulations to allow the construction of the building that is said to have cost Hungarian taxpayers HUF 30 billion, over 70% more than originally planned.

HUNGARIAN OLYMPIC CHAMPION GYMNAST PASSES AWAY

Olympic, world and European champion gymnast Szilveszter Csollány died at the age of 51 on January 24. The sportsman, infected with the new coronavirus, was hospitalized last November and after his condition deteriorated, he was put on a ventilator in early December. Szilveszter Csollány was born on April 13, 1970 in Sopron, NW Hungary. His first senior success came at the 1990 European Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland where he won the bronze medal in the rings. Two years later, at the Barcelona Olympics, he finished ninth with the team and sixth in the individual all-around and seventh on the pommel horse. In the same year, he won silver in the rings at the World Championships in Paris and bronze at the European Championships in Budapest. His greatest successes were achieved in the rings. At the 1998 European Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia, he was finally able to stand on the top of the podium. Although he only won silver medals at the 1999 World and 2000 European Championships, he was the best at the Sydney Olympics, scoring 9.85 points and winning the gold medal with great confidence.