Page 12 - bne_newspaper_May_04_2018

Central Europe
May 4, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 12
cabinet to go against the will of Orban, but he knew the limits.
At some point, his name popped up as a potential prime minister candidate, should Orban assume the presidency in 2022. However, any plans of turning Hungary into a presidential democracy have been categorically denied by Orban.
Lazar will be replaced by Fidesz's young caucus leader Gergely Gulyas, who will also be in charge of the weekly press conferences that had become a hallmark of his predecessor.
Lazar's press conferences had become the
only forum for journalists, including those from opposition media, to get relevant information on the government's plans. Fidesz MPs boycotted news media run by Simicska after he criticised Orban for his pro-Russian stance and autocratic leadership.
Lazar's departure from the government will likely strengthen the position of his party
rival Antal Rogan, who oversees government communications. Described as Orban's right-hand man, Rogan is credited for the successful anti-migrant propaganda of the party, which helped Fidesz secure a third straight supermajority.
Unsuccessful mega-ministry to stagger on Orban named a newcomer, university professor Miklos Kasler, director of the National Oncology Institute, to lead the human resources ministry. According to local media, Kasler wanted to change the structure of the broad-ranging ministry, which encompasses education, health care, and social welfare, but the prime minister disagreed and rejected the idea.
The ministry has been the target of criticism as health care and education are widely regarded as areas where the government has performed poorly. Hungary has slipped back in both areas in various international rankings over the past four
years. Orban shrugged off these criticisms, but after his third supermajority victory, voices inside the ruling Fidesz party are also calling for reforms and more funding for these two strategic sectors.
Contrary to previous press reports, Orban did not promote Katalin Novak, the state secretary for youth and family affairs, to a ministerial position in the new cabinet. After the election victory, Orban named demographics as a key priority of his cabinet, promising more measures to increase birthrates. Despite an increase of the fertility rate to 1.44, the percentage of women of reproductive age is now significantly lower than it was five to 10 years ago, which makes it a mounting challenge to overcome the demographic trap.
Lajos Kosa, who oversaw the government's grand HUF3.5 trillion city development programme,
will not be part of the new cabinet. Hungarian media saw this as a demotion, which may have been linked to a quasi-corruption scandal that broke just before the elections. Kosa will be in charge of the Fidesz campaign for the 2019 local government elections.
In what local press described as a surprising appointment, Orban has named a professional soldier to lead the Ministry of Defence for the first time since the fall of Communism.
Hungary’s new government will be a national government, which regards its primary tasks as follows: preserving the culture of Europe and Hungary, which is based on Christian values; defending the country’s borders; creating full employment; supporting the commitment to have and raise children; and honouring Hungary’s elderly citizens, according to the statement by the government communication office.
The new government will take office at an inaugural session on Mary 8. Meanwhile, protest organisers say a big rally will be staged in front of the parliament on the same day, similar to the two anti-government protests earlier this month.