The Government supports the refurbishment of the Budapest M3 metro line, a government decision is being prepared with respect to a metro replacement service, and it will be published by 5 July, János Lázár, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said on the Wednesday evening programme of Klubrádió.
„The Government is happy to provide financial assistance as well. There are ongoing technical consultations as to the form of this assistance.”
In the context of the fact that, for the duration of the metro refurbishment works, replacement buses will have to be procured – rented or purchased –, the Minister stressed: they are requesting the parties concerned to take Hungarian bus manufacturing capacities into consideration.
In the next few years, the need may arise for the procurement of some one thousand buses, and there are six to eight Hungarian-owned companies which specialise in the assembly, and partly in the manufacture of buses. „We are lobbying in the interest of the Hungarian industry” so that Hungarian players, too, may enter the field of competition, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office remarked.
Mr Lázár added: there is a need for cooperation between the metropolitan municipality and the Government, and there is scope for improvement regarding the culture of consultation. Horizontal consultation is a serious challenge, he added.
In the Minister’s view, the Hungarian quota referendum will not debilitate the EU. At the same time, illegal immigration and economic migration must be prevented. Mr Lázár pointed out that while the German labour market needs some half of million migrants annually according to some calculations, immigration does not fall within the Hungarian Government’s nation strategy. Even if there are demographic difficulties, the Hungarian Government does not contemplate „labour succession” in the form of migrants from Africa, but with people from beyond the borders with a Hungarian identity. The difference between these two positions is unbridgeable, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office warned.
Regarding the foundations of the National Bank of Hungary, Mr Lázár said: these affairs are capable of drawing attention away from the central bank’s fantastic performance, the low interest rates and the increased lending activity. The goals of the foundations cannot be found objectionable, he said. He added at the same time: the executives of the National Bank of Hungary are responsible for ensuring that everything happens within the boundaries of the law.