Hungary's Járai Calls 3.8% Deficit “Unfeasible”

  • 18 Mar 2010 3:00 AM
Hungary's Járai Calls 3.8% Deficit “Unfeasible”
"The government’s 2010 budget deficit target of 3.8% of GDP is not feasible and could grow to 7-8% if no additional measures are taken, Fidesz former finance minister Zsigmond Járai said Tuesday.

Járai told the Hungarian Business Lead-ers Forum that a 5% deficit can be agreed with the IMF and the EU if it is matched with the consolidation of state-owned companies.

The euro convergence programme ap-proved with the EU in 2007 is wrong, Járai declared as he compared it to the five-year plans of the Rákosi era. The major problem, he said, is that there is nothing in the plan to show how a brighter future can be created.

The euro can be adopted only after the economy is put in order, probably in 2015-16, Járai added.

Járai said the tax revenue can be cut from the present 39% of GDP to 29% in the next four years, as he called for a more simple and transparent tax system."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock.

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