PM Orbán revokes the net tax bill
November 1st, 2014A few hours after the Prime Minister’s announcement that his government will not introduce the planned tax on internet use, because ”under these conditions it simply cannot be introduced,” the net swarmed with comments on his Hungarian Radio interview. Friends and foes alike admit that he is still flexible enough to react to the public mood.
On HVG online, András Hont admits that the tax would not have imposed an unbearable burden on consumers, but they interpreted it as an intrusion into their private spheres. Just as they did when the ‘Great Hungarian Reformer’, former leftist premier Ferenc Gyurcsány wanted to introduce tuition fees and doctors’ fees back in 2008. Mr Gyurcsány insisted on his project and thus produced a two thirds Fidesz majority in Parliament. “Thanks a lot”, he adds bitterly. Mr Orbán, on the other hand, cleverly retreated, because „unfortunately”, Hont remarks, he knows how to stay in power.
On Jobbegyenes, Bálint Bazsó believes the Internet tax story shows that Mr Orbán “is not at home in the world of today’s young generations”. Nevertheless he was wise enough to take a step back, which proves that he still understands and knows how to handle politics.