FinMin Undersecretary Katona resigns over leaked information

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány accepted Katona’s resignation to quit after the state secretary spoke prematurely about potential government decisions, the premier's office said in an e-mailed statement. „The Prime Minister considers it unacceptable and inadmissible for government officials to make statements that attribute the cabinet with intentions that have not been in any way decided, that don't reflect the government's concrete position and exact plans,” the statement said.

The PM and the goverment praised Katona’s working abilities and the effort he put in developing the convergence program and the New Balance plan, so they are looking forward to continuing good professional relationship and work with him, in a later defined, new position. Katona yesterday spoke about the government's plan to introduce a property tax for all homes worth more than Ft 9.5 million from 2008.

The government denied that the plan had already been made, adding that while the proposal for introducing the new tax has been announced, the specifics hadn't even been discussed. Before working at the Finance Ministry, Katona was Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy's chief of staff. He earlier served as the head of the Central Statistics Office (KSH). The new state secretary will be assigned later, Emese Danks spokeswoman said.(Mti, Bloomberg)