Hungary’s Ruling Party Fidesz Backs Away From Drug Testing

  • 10 Dec 2014 8:00 AM
Hungary’s Ruling Party Fidesz Backs Away From Drug Testing
Drug testing for children aged 12-18 would be carried out only on a voluntary basis, leading Fidesz officials said yesterday, as the party began to withdraw from the idea, Népszabadság reports.

Communications director Máté Kocsis, who first proposed the idea on Facebook last Friday, said yesterday that “obviously” the tests could be carried out only with the assent of parents, and only the parents would know the results of the tests.

Several cabinet members say the idea is wrong and should be dropped after the holidays at the latest.

The idea to introduce drug testing for children as well as journalists and politicians came from prime ministerial advisor Árpád Habony, and was approved by Orbán, according to reports.

It is no coincidence that Kocsis posted the idea on Friday night, HVG writes, as he, along with Habony is part of a communications team that meets every Friday.

The goal was said to be to divert attention from wealth accumulation scandals surrounding Fidesz politicians and US allegations of high-level corruption.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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