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A senior member of the governing party says a controversial new media law could be amended if the law was applied "in a wrong way, or there are problems" parliament would change. Janos Lazar said the Fidesz party's aim was to "improve" the Hungarian media, and "not to wage a war" against it.
There were peaceful protests by several hundred people after parliament passed the law that greatly expanded private media monitoring and imposes hefty penalties.
The ruling Fidesz party had claimed the law will ensure more balanced reporting but the opposition argued that the law only cements Fidesz's "media monopoly."
News portal index.hu placed mock polls at the end of some of its stories, asking readers: "under the new media law, how much would you fine us for this article?"
With a two-thirds majority in parliament, the government has stripped the Constitutional Court of most of its powers to rule on tax and state budget issues; amended the Constitution to fit its lawmaking plans; and disbanded the Budget Council, an independent body set earlier up to monitor budget developments.
ALSO: Despite PM Viktor Orban's desires, the central bank is front loading interest-rate increases to fight inflation before Orban can "take over" monetary policy in his dispute with bank chief Andres Simor.
The Magyar Nemzeti Bank yesterday raised the benchmark two-week deposit rate to 5.75 percent from 5.5 percent.
The bankers defied Orban’s call for lower borrowing costs to support pro-growth government measures, which they said were “unsustainable.”
FOR DETAILS, SEE:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-20/hungary-central-ban-may-frontload-rate-increases-before-orban-takes-over-.html
