Hungary has no pre-conditions for start of IMF-EU credit negotiations, says govt spokesman

There are no pre-conditions for the start of negotiations on a financial assistance package with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union; the Hungarian government stands ready, so the talks could start anytime, government spokesman Andras Giro-Szasz said on public television early Friday.

Mr Giro-Szasz stressed that the amendment of legislation to which the EU has objected is not a pre-condition for the start of the negotiations.

He dismissed speculation that Hungary’s flat-rate tax system could be a condition for the credit, saying the issue had "not even come up" with the EU, adding that the IMF had given credit to four countries with flat-rate tax regimes - including two EU members - in the last 2-3 years.

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