VZCZCXRO3670
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHUP #1498/01 2090824
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280824Z JUL 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9663
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUDAPEST 001498 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS EUR/NCE MICHELLE LABONTE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY,S PARLIAMENT:  THE FALL 2006 AGENDA 
 
 
BUDAPEST 00001498  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (U) The last plenary session of Parliament,s 
&extraordinary8 summer sitting, which began May 16, was 
July 24; now, the cabinet, the prime minister and Members of 
Parliament are already making preparations for the autumn 
session.  While new items are certain to be added to the 
political agenda of Parliament as the fall 2006 session moves 
along, many action items will come under the rubric of the 
continuing harmonization of Hungary,s legal structure with 
European Union standards and expectations.  This cable 
examines the agenda for the fall, as recently laid out by 
Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. 
 
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September 
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¶2. (U) With President Solyom having called local elections 
for the earliest date possible under the constitution, 
Parliament will manage just one plenary session prior to the 
vote on October 1.  The purpose of that plenary session on 
September 18 will be to debate the National Development Plan 
(NDP), which will outline Hungary,s development goals for 
the 2007-2013 EU budget period.  The government is expected 
to make details of the plan public in late July, after which 
it will invite outside recommendations for modifications to 
make before the all-out debate on September 18.  (Note: 
Although the local elections will not directly affect the 
work of Parliament, all major parties will be in full 
campaign mode, hence the limited September agenda for 
Parliament.) 
 
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October 
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¶3. (U) According to the prime minister,s proposal to the 
speaker of Parliament on July 24, MPs will kick off the 
October session by discussing healthcare issues, particularly 
the question of sterilization.  Last November, the 
Constitutional Court struck down the provisions of the Health 
Act pertaining to sterilization, which limited the procedure 
to women over 35 or with a minimum of three children.  The 
Court found the restrictions to be disproportionate 
limitations on a woman,s liberty to choose and struck down 
the regulation, which went out of force on June 1, 2006. 
Currently, no legislation governs the issue, and the court 
has enjoined Parliament to decide on a regulation scheme as 
early as possible.  Given the inherently controversial nature 
of the issue, there has been significant debate over what the 
new provisions should or should not allow.  The governing 
coalition has so far indicated that it favors more lax 
provisions, while the conservative parties have indicated 
their preference for strictly regulating access to the 
procedure. 
 
¶4. (U) Also in October, Parliament will discuss the legal 
background of genetic engineering, along with regulations on 
electronic communications, both in an effort to ensure 
Hungarian regulations are fully compliant with European Union 
standards.  Further items on the agenda include debates on 
corporate law, public procurement, and toxic materials as 
well as a broader clean-up of existing legal and regulatory 
language to reflect recent changes in government structure. 
(Note: procurement is an issue of key interest for the 
mission, and one in which we are formulating a joint approach 
with other embassies.  End note.) 
 
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November 
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¶5. (U) The November agenda will once again feature items 
aimed at ensuring harmony with EU laws and regulations. 
Items up for debate will focus on air, land and water 
transport, fishing and agriculture, business advertising, as 
well as privatization.  As a package, laws will be introduced 
to achieve more transparency in bank management, to harmonize 
Hungarian legislation on money laundering with EU standards, 
and to establish a more efficient consumer-protection 
structure in Hungary.  A modification of regulations on the 
rights of the disabled will be debated; it will include plans 
to ensure that those with handicaps have better access to 
public services and buildings.  Parliamentarians will also 
consider giving legal status to the National Interest 
Coordination Council.  (Note:  The National Interest 
Coordination Council currently functions as the primary forum 
 
BUDAPEST 00001498  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
for coordination between the government, employers and 
employees in labor-related questions; it studies the effects 
of labor and tax laws on workers, as well as employment 
figures.) 
 
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December 
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¶6. (U) In December, the last month of Parliament,s fall 
session, Members of Parliament will review possible 
amendments to agricultural laws, once again to ensure 
conformity with European Union laws.  With the same goal in 
mind, the government will submit to Parliament a proposal 
regulating the travel of foreigners to Hungary and their 
residence in the country, and an item on the Schengen 
Information System.  The coalition plans to introduce a 
package of laws to increase conformity with EU and UN 
provisions on child protection, economy and terrorism. 
December will also be when the coalition puts forth its 
proposal for the 2007 budget.  In addition, MPs will debate 
laws on unemployment benefits and pensions (debate on the 
latter will focus on modernizing early retirement rules). 
 
¶7. (U) In this fall session, Parliament will have to fill the 
position of the Chief Public Prosecutor, which it has been 
unable to do since the previous Prosecutor,s term expired in 
May.  While it is President Solyom,s prerogative to nominate 
the candidate, Parliament must approve it with a majority. 
The President,s first candidate was rejected in June. 
 
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Comment 
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¶8. (SBU) Parliament,s fall session will coincide with two 
politically important and sensitive events:  the October 1 
local elections and the October 23 fiftieth anniversary of 
the 1956 Uprising.  October,s local elections will follow 
April,s national elections.  Afterwards, the campaign-weary 
Hungarian public will surely breathe a sigh of relief, as no 
elections will then be in sight for two and a half years. 
Many analysts say that will enable the MSZP-SZDSZ coalition 
government better to focus on getting real work done.  The 
October 23 commemorations will surely throw political 
differences into relief once again, but only for a short 
time.  The question will then be how MSZP,s popularity holds 
up.  That popularity has declined significantly since the 
April elections, while the opposition parties have attempted 
to exploit discontent with austerity measures. 
WALKER