On Monday evening, the government released the 13 questions of the national consultation about the coronavirus and the restarting of the economy.
The introduction of the questionnaire published on the government website kormany.hu highlights that in the first half of 2020 the coronavirus epidemic forced all countries around the world to face an unprecedented situation, “we Hungarians combined efforts, adopted the necessary measures in good time, and so managed to contain the epidemic”.
They draw attention to the fact that according to physicians and epidemiologists, it is necessary to maintain a state of preparedness due to the emergence of a possible second wave of the pandemic. At this time, it is especially important to listen to people’s opinions as experts agree that those disease control measures prove to be effective which enjoy robust social support, they stress.
The first question of the national consultation is about the measures that people would support for the event of another peak of the epidemic. Several of the nine options provided – including the introduction of restrictions on movement, compulsory social distancing, compulsory wearing of face masks, closure of the borders, closure of educational institutions and changeover to digital education, restriction of events, maintenance of a shopping time slot reserved for those over 65, restrictions on the exportation of equipment and supplies necessary for the fight against the epidemic and free parking – can be selected.
The questionnaire also features questions about the maintenance of a state of disease control preparedness in health care, the enhanced disease control protection of elderly care homes and the production in Hungary of equipment necessary for the fight against the epidemic. The government would further like to know whether during the epidemic families raising school-age children and teachers should have free access to the Internet, and whether there is a need for a permanent Hungarian disease control monitoring service.
The questionnaire’s questions concerning the economy include whether during the fight against the epidemic banks and multinational companies should also contribute to the costs of the containment effort, whether the purchase of Hungarian products and services should be encouraged, whether domestic tourism should be promoted, and whether the job protection and job creation programmes should also be maintained after the epidemic is over.
The questionnaire also highlights that George Soros presented the idea of perpetual bonds for the management of the post-pandemic economic crisis. Therefore, the government is asking respondents whether they reject George Soros’s plan which would drive Hungary “into debt indefinitely”. They additionally want to know whether Hungary should protect Hungarian businesses from hostile foreign takeovers.
The last two questions of the consultation concern the issue of migration; they are asking members of the public whether the government should continue to take action against immigration and should maintain the strict protection of the Hungarian borders, and whether the Hungarian government should insist on upholding rules prohibiting immigration even at the expense of open conflicts with Brussels.
The government’s national consultation questionnaires will be sent to people’s homes by mail and can be returned free of charge until 15 August.