Hungarian protesters block bridge in Budapest over planned tax rise

The protesters initially gathered at a main square outside parliament before marching to a nearby bridge over the River Danube, blocking traffic in both directions between the two sides of Budapest amid a heavy police presence. Nationalist Orban is facing his toughest challenge yet since taking power in a 2010 landslide, with inflation at its highest in two decades, the forint plumbing record lows and European Union funds in limbo amid a dispute over democratic standards.


Reuters | Budapest | Updated: 12-07-2022 18:04 IST | Created: 12-07-2022 17:56 IST
Hungarian protesters block bridge in Budapest over planned tax rise
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About 1,000 demonstrators blocked a bridge in central Budapest on Tuesday as parliament debated a motion by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government that would increase the tax rate for hundreds of thousands of small firms. The protesters initially gathered at a main square outside parliament before marching to a nearby bridge over the River Danube, blocking traffic in both directions between the two sides of Budapest amid a heavy police presence.

Nationalist Orban is facing his toughest challenge yet since taking power in a 2010 landslide, with inflation at its highest in two decades, the forint plumbing record lows and European Union funds in limbo amid a dispute over democratic standards. With the bridge blocked for about three hours, choking off on one of Budapest's main traffic arteries, protesters chanting "withdraw it" faced down policemen ordering them to leave.

It was the first major show of popular disquiet since Orban was re-elected in April. Police said a group of demonstrators also blocked some lanes on another bridge further downstream, with Budapest's historic Chain Bridge also closed due to ongoing renovation works.

"It is possible that it will not be worth continuing it (with the higher tax rate)," said 52-year-old Katalin Karolyi, a medical worker, who also has a small business advising a company on dietary issues. "This will endanger my livelihood, the livelihood of my entire family."

The Hungarian Medical Chamber said the abrupt overhaul could jeopardize the seamless treatment of patients, calling on Orban's government to exempt medical workers from the new rules. Orban's government submitted the amendments to parliament on Monday, drastically tightening eligibility for the simplified tax regime, which many small businesses opted into due to the low administration and low tax rate it offered.

However, the government says the system was abused by some businesses forcing workers into the scheme to curb their own costs, facilitating a form of covert employment. The opposition Jobbik party has called on Orban to withdraw the legislation. The new rules are set to take effect in September, pending parliamentary approval. The tax had been due to raise 237 billion forints ($572 million) this year.

Laszlo Zara, a tax adviser, said the changes affecting an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 small businesses could squeeze the overwhelming majority out of the revised scheme, with some 50,000 people remaining eligible. "This is clearly a tax increase, any way you try to frame it, a very large tax increase," he said.

"This will be inflationary because (small businesses) will not be able to reach their previous income levels, forcing them to raise prices, also raising inflation." ($1 = 413.66 forints)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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