Rail Closures In Hungary May Be Blamed On IMF

  • 11 Jun 2012 9:02 AM
Rail Closures In Hungary May Be Blamed On IMF
Planned closures of railway lines in September will be blamed on the “stinky, filthy IMF,” a senior adviser of state traffic science institute KTI has said in talks with union representatives. The official, Gábor Dóka, is heard making the comments on a secret video taken during negotiations by the railway workers union VDSZSZ and posted on its website.

“Völner said the line closures will be announced at a time when there will be a scapegoat to blame it on. When will that be? When the IMF talks start and it can be said that the IMF is a stinky, filthy predator capitalist. They forced us to close the lines,” Dóka argued.

On another issue, he is heard saying “we have not managed for five years to have track renovation funds spent where it is most needed,” referring to EU subsidies.

The Development Ministry said the statements made by Dóka have no basis and reflect his own opinion only, as the government does not plan to and will not close any railway lines.

The comments on EU funds prompted the Socialist and LMP parties to call for an investigation into mismanagement of funds.

Fidesz-linked Közgép won several EU subsidised railway renovation orders as part of consortia, as did Vasútépítők, the construction company owned by the father of government spokesman Péter Szijjártó, Népszava writes.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

This news item is one of many published daily by HATC, a premier subscription news service which distributes English-language info about Hungary via email or fax. For a free trial of HATC follow this link and click on 'Free Trial Subscription'.

  • How does this content make you feel?