Opposition Fidesz – tipped to form the next government after the April elections – rejects the Socialist government’s appointment of civil servants for six years, Fidesz MP Robert Repassy told a news conference on Monday.
Repassy said that the Socialists had parachuted their own cadres into important ministry positions. He noted that there were altogether 479 civil servants in leading positions, most of whose mandates would only expire between 2013-2015.
Head of the prime minister’s office Csaba Molnar said in response that Fidesz was “threatening talented and independent civil servants”.
Repassy insisted that Fidesz had a constitutional right to select top civil servants and would exercise it.
The Socialist government not only wants to restrict the possibilities of the next cabinet by ensuring those positions for its own people, it is neglecting the will of voters as well, Repassy added. He said that the next government “will find a way to enforce the will of the people”.
Molnar said that the government had put a hiring freeze in place since January this year and new appointments were only for replacements in case of retirement or resignation.
In July 2007 the government headed by Ferenc Gyurcsany decided to give the heads of state administration agencies contracts for a six-year period.