District 8 mayor wants annual drug test for all teens, journalists

Parliament

The mayor of Budapest's District 8 is planning to propose a bill to the parliament introducing mandatory annual drug tests for journalists, children between the ages of 12 and 18 and politicians, international news agency Associated Press reported on Saturday. 

Máté Kocsis explained his idea by saying that "those most at risk, decision-makers and opinion-formers" need to be checked. Aside from being a mayor, Kocsis is also the communications director of Hungary’s governing party Fidesz.

Fidesz spokesman Bence Tuzson said the proposal is scheduled for discussion on Monday by the party's parliamentary group. “Fidesz has had a two-thirds majority in parliament since 2010, allowing it to pass laws at will and without consultation, sometimes within a few days of the initial proposal” AP adds.

As a result of Kocsis’ initiative, a free needle-exchange program for intravenous drug users was terminated. “Since becoming mayor in 2010, Kocsis has also introduced measures banning waste-picking and fines or jail time for homeless people caught sleeping rough” AP says.

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