Socialists call for revision of 2013 budget, claiming 500 bn forint hole

Budapest, August 31 (MTI) - The opposition Socialist party has called for next year s budget to be revised in light of comments made by the head of the independent Fiscal Council and analysis indicating a possible 400-500 billion forint hole.

Sandor Burany, a Socialist lawmaker, told a news conference on Friday, the 2013 budget, whose main figures have been approved by parliament, stood on shaky foundations. He noted that Arpad Kovacs, the Fiscal Council s head, had asked the Economy Ministry for more details and background to complement information already provided.

Burany said no kind of data or analysis on the market existed to underpin the ministry s growth forecast, adding that most expectations were for the economy to stagnate.

He also cited a July survey by Tarki suggesting that just one person in a hundred thought the state of the economy was good. "It cannot be excluded that the one person was [Economy Minister Gyorgy] Matolcsy himself," he added.

Burany said the continuation of talks with international lenders now appeared uncertain, underscored by the fact that the IMF had not yet fixed a date for the next stage of talks to begin. He said this could be connected with "stubbornness" of the government of Viktor Orban, who, according to news reports, does not want to let go of his insistence on introducing a tax for central-bank transactions. This, he added, compromised the bank s independence.