Nóra Somlyódi, journalist of Magyar Narancs has initiated a lawsuit against the Hungarian Privatization and State Holding Company for denying access to public interest data on the Experimental Economic Holding Company of Herceghalom.
The journalist was interested in details of the company’s operations. Since the Hungarian Privatization and State Holding Company is a shareholder of the Experimental Economic Holding Company, the journalist is entitled to gain access to the requested data. Everyone is entitled to access data of the state’s public funds. The journalist will be represented by the HCLU.
In November, 2013 András Horváth, former staff member of the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration turned to the public with his information on companies committing VAT fraud with the assistance of the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV). The whistleblower decided to seek publicity after several unsuccessful attempts to raise the issue within the Administration and the government. The revelations resulted in huge media coverage and created an unresolved political scandal ever since.
The draft law – currently before the Parliament – on Data Protection and Freedom of Information will replace the independent Data Protection and Freedom of Information Commissioner with an administrative authority. This change will seriously diminish the level of privacy protection and weaken the right to access to information in Hungary.
The draft Bill on Social Participation will repeal the now operative law on lobbying. This proposed measure would lead to an increase in oppurtunities for corruption by curtailing the transparency of public decision-making.