Hungary: Socialists Accuse Fidesz of Nepotism in Tobacco-nationalization Scheme

Source from:  All Hungary Media Group (AHMG) (hu)  04/26/2013

A state-sponsored tobacconist scheme will favour "Fidesz friends and relatives" and not vulnerable groups, the opposition Socialists said on Thursday.

Sandor Burany, a lawmaker for the party, told a press conference that after state procurements and state land-buying schemes, plans to nationalise tobacco sales will also favour those close to the governing Fidesz party.

Instead of helping young mothers and needy pensioners as promised, "we are becoming a country of tobacco barons close to Fidesz," Burany said.

The Socialists said earlier that some 1,500 villages throughout Hungary will lose access to cigarettes when the new law allowing only national tobacconists to sell them comes into effect.

Winners of applications for licences to sell tobacco under the new state concession were announced on Tuesday. A total of 5,415 licences were awarded, more than the 5,000 expected, an official said. More than 15,600 applications for tobacco licences were received by the February 22 deadline.

Contracts will be signed within 30 days. A second round will be called for 1,417 licences in villages where no applications had been submitted. Enditem