Orban Says Hungary Ready to Negotiate ‘All the Points’ for Loan
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban comments on the country’s bailout talks with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
He spoke at a meeting with reporters in Budapest today.
On the negotiations:
“Our general approach is that we’re ready to negotiate all the points. But what we need is not political opinion but arguments. And when the arguments on behalf of the European Union are convincing that it’s better to accept and follow that line, there’s no reason not to do that.”
On EU’s excessive deficit procedure against Hungary:
“Yesterday’s comments on behalf of the European Union didn’t contain any argument, just opinion, saying that they don’t like it, it’s against general legislation of the European Union. But we would like to get more specific points on which points they would like to see modification or corrections. And we are ready to consider it.
‘‘Now the markets are more optimistic. The fundamentals of the Hungarian economy proved to be far stronger than many suggested or appreciated or perceived.
‘‘The opinion of the European Commission on excessive deficit procedure is rather promising on us because they criticized only the past, 2010 and 2011. It’s a clear sign that we are very close on an agreement on the possible and wished performance on the Hungarian economy and the budget in 2012. In 2012, without any extraordinary measures, the budget deficit will be below 3 percent for the first time since joining European Union.
‘‘The commission did not deny that fact, which is promising, so I think we are very close to each other, we agree on 2012 and even on 2013.’’
On Hungary’s economic outlook:
The outlook for the budget ‘‘generates a better climate on the market and I’m sure after an agreement with the IMF we will be able to stay on the financial market because the agreement with the IMF is not to leave the financial markets.
‘‘If we are able, when we are able to stay on the financial market and at the same time we have the financial background by the agreement with the IMF, when this package is put together the economy can’’ go ‘‘forward at stronger economic growth.
‘‘My best case scenario is that in one month the main subject related to the Hungarian economy is not how to finance the economy but how successful the growth plan could be.’’
To contact the reporter on this story: Zoltan Simon in Budapest at zsimon@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Balazs Penz at bpenz@bloomberg.net
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