国际英语新闻：Hungarian Socialist Party holds mass rally against government policy

BUDAPEST, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The opposition Hungarian Socialist Party criticized the government's pension and tax policy at a mass rally, held in Budapest on Saturday.

Attila Mesterhazy, leader of the Hungarian Socialist Party announced at the Papp Ferenc Sportarena that his party will submit a petition to the Fidesz government against the elimination of savings of private pension funds and the unfair tax system. He criticized also the curtailing of the competence of the Constitutional Court, the cleaning up in the public sector, the unjust layoffs, and occupation of the media.

Unless the government changes its policy and arrogant style, the party will bring tens of thousands of people to the streets next spring to say it was enough, said Mesterhazy. At this moment the crowd chided Prime Minister Viktor Orban, crying out "Orban get thee gone."

Attila Mesterhazy, leader of the Hungarian Socialist Party, speaks during a mass rally held at Papp Laszlo Sports Arena in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Nov. 27, 2010. The opposition Hungarian Socialist Party criticized the government's pension and tax policy at a mass rally held here on Saturday.

He also slammed Fidesz party, which has governed for less than a half of year, saying that it promised changes, prosperity and social safety, but brought uncertainty, fear and chaos instead. He said his party will fight with all means against the "insane policy" of the Fidesz.

Hungarian Economy Minister Gyorgy Matolcsy on Wednesday announced changes in the pension system which will eliminate mandatory private pension funds by the end of next year.

There are rising concerns and anxiety in Hungary and in the EU on economic policy of the Hungarian government. According to a fresh study, the government has amended the constitution for six times in three months and adopted 56 bills that became law, 45 of them were submitted not by the government but by individual MPs, avoiding the parliamentary full scrutiny.

Hungarian wire service MTI quoted spokesman for EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn as saying that the European Commission is concerned about Hungary's plan to abolish the mandatory private pension funds.