Opposition Parties Call On Politicians To Declare Offshore Interests

  • 6 Apr 2016 9:00 AM
Opposition Parties Call On Politicians To Declare Offshore Interests
All politicians should make a public declaration if they are involved in any offshore businesses, the leftist opposition Democratic Coalition has urged. Referring to press reports, DK spokesman Zsolt Gréczy told a press conference that two Hungarian politicians have been named in connection with the recent offshore scandal.

He said the asset declarations of spouses or partners of parliamentarians should be made public to reveal any possible wrongdoing. He also noted that all DK’s leaders and deputies have signed declarations stating that neither they nor their partners have any such businesses.

The Dialogue for Hungary (PM) party demanded that all parties should expel members implicated in the offshore scandal or involved in any economic crimes. Bence Tordai proposed that revenues from offshore businesses should be levied with a 30% withholding tax, while private individuals should pay a tax on such revenues even if dividends are not paid out.

The opposition parties on Monday urged that the government should take measures in light of the international offshore “Panama Papers” scandal.

Radical nationalist Jobbik named former ruling Fidesz lawmaker Zsolt Horvath, listed in the Panama documents, and said he had “syphoned off development funding”.

The ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrats said the opposition Socialists have been “caught once again” in the international offshore scandal.

“This is not the first time: ever since the case of Gábor Simon, we have been aware that they were involved in such activities”, Christian Democrat lawmaker István Hollik said.

The offshore scandal has revealed that former Socialist treasurer Laszlo Boldvai had a company registered in Samoa in his wife’s name with the purpose of hiding funds, he added.

This also shows that the opposition is “full of corruption cases” and “the Socialists cannot give account of this up to this day”, he said. Socialist leader József Tóbiás said Boldvai had suspended his Socialist party membership, stating that press reports about his company were true and he did not wish to be a burden on the party.

The radical nationalist Jobbik party filed charges with the public prosecutor in connection with Hungarian suspects in light of the recent “Panama Papers” revelations. Jobbik lawmaker György Szilágyi said that former Fidesz lawmaker Zsolt Horváth and former Socialist MP László Boldvai were implicated in the allegations concerning the improper use of offshore companies.

He said Jobbik demands an investigation. Szilágyi insisted that the ruling Fidesz party and the opposition Socialists had “equally robbed the country” over the past 26 years, lavishing gifts to their “pals” using taxpayer money.

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