Report: Orbán avoids pointed questions by hiding behind curtain

Orbán deflected questions to his cabinet minister Antal Rogán, however, Jobbik, LMP and Socialist MPs chose to address Orbán instead on such topics as oligarchs, corruption and systems that favor the ruling Fidesz’s immediate circle, index.hu reported.

Orbán finally moved away from the curtain and sat down, although not in his usual seat, and responded to three of the MPs questions. According to House rules the prime minister can only designate someone to answer questions for him three times.

In response to the opposition leaders’ questions regarding corruption in public procurement procedures, Orbán responded by saying that Hungary’s public procurement law is in fact the strictest of its kind in Europe. The query by LMP co-leader András Schiffer was in reference to an amendment approved last week, which allows relatives of government officials, to bid for public procurement contracts, the only restriction being that they cannot live in the same household as the official, according to reports.

Orbán responded that public procurements tenders in Hungary are public and as such the names and details of the bidding companies must be made public. When Schiffer reportedly said that the new law helps legitimize the many instances in which public lighting projects were won by Orbán’s son-in-law, Orbán responded: “If any members of my family take part in public procurement tenders, would you be so kind as to let me know?” index.hu quoted the prime minister as saying.