Parliament passed the controversial legislation on Tuesday. Students vowed to stage a protest demonstration in Budapest and around the country on October 19. The European Union will not approve of EU funds ending up in the hands of private investors close to the governing Socialist Party (MSzP), vice-chairman of Fidesz Pál Schmitt told the rally at Kossuth square on Sunday. Schmitt referred to the taped speech of Mónika Lamperth, Hungary’s local government and regional development minister, at a closed-door MSZP meeting, which was broadcast by public Hungarian Radio last Sunday. The minister allegedly promised Socialist officials strong positions on the regional development councils despite MSZP’s poor performance in the recent local elections, suggesting that they would have more influence when allocating EU funds. (Népszava)