Conflicting social diagnoses four days before the EP elections

A left-wing author calls on Hungarians to vote against the government because by centralising decision-making it has done great harm to public services. A pro-government commentator thinks similar opposition charges are unfounded.

In Népszava, former MSZP Chairman Gyula Molnár describes the state of the national health service as characterised by neglected buildings in the capital and a dire shortage of physicians in the provinces. He believes this is all due to the government’s drive to centralise decision-making. He calls on voters to turn up at next Sunday’s election for the European parliament and ‘vote for Europe’ as the European Union supports the autonomy of locally elected authorities.

In Magyar Hírlap, Zsófia Jobbágyi accuses the opposition of using unfounded allegations in its campaign. Quoting statistics, she claims that there are more physicians at work in Hungary than ever before, and that over the first quarter more Hungarians have returned to their country than the number of those who left to make a living abroad. She dismisses as particularly groundless the frequent claim that Fidesz wants to lead Hungary out of the EU.

Tags: centralisation, EP elections