BUDAPEST, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Hungary's main opposition party Fidesz, well-poised to win parliamentary elections next year, said on Monday the budget deficit could almost double in 2010 from an expected 3.9 percent of GDP this year.
Hungary has promised to reduce its deficit next year to 3.8 percent of GDP under a programme and key financing deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union.
Fidesz party President Viktor Orban said the draft budget being discussed by parliament now, which targets a deficit of 3.8 percent of gross domestic product, overestimates revenues and excludes big spending items which will emerge next year.
'(The deficit), according to our calculations, will not stop below 7.3-7.5 percent (next year),' Orban told Echo TV in an interview.
'This is a budget which will create a crisis situation, which is based on false numbers... and is aimed at deceiving voters,' he added.
Orban reiterated that Fidesz, if it wins elections, would probably rewrite the 2010 budget.
Orban said earlier that he could see Hungary running a higher deficit in order to take measures to boost the economy which is struggling with a deep recession.
He said on Monday that spending items missing from the draft budget include covering the central bank's expected losses, and consolidating state railway company MAV, Budapest public transport firm BKV and state-owned bank MFB.
The consolidation of loss-making hospitals would cost 110 billion forints ($601.8 million) and state guarantees in the health care sector and other items can further widen the deficit, he added.
Analysts in a Reuters poll last month projected a deficit of 3.9 percent of GDP for both 2009 and 2010, while Finance Minister Peter Oszko has said the deficit targets remained achievable both this year and next.
The fourth review of Hungary's performance by the IMF and the EU is currently underway.
Fidesz has a huge lead over the ruling Socialists in opinion polls ahead of general elections which are scheduled for April or May 2010.
(Reporting by Sandor Peto, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) ($1=182.78 Hungarian Forint) Keywords: HUNGARY BUDGET/OPPOSITION (sandor.peto@thomsonreuters.com; +36 1 327 4744; Reuters Messaging sandor.peto.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Hungary has promised to reduce its deficit next year to 3.8 percent of GDP under a programme and key financing deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union.
Fidesz party President Viktor Orban said the draft budget being discussed by parliament now, which targets a deficit of 3.8 percent of gross domestic product, overestimates revenues and excludes big spending items which will emerge next year.
'(The deficit), according to our calculations, will not stop below 7.3-7.5 percent (next year),' Orban told Echo TV in an interview.
'This is a budget which will create a crisis situation, which is based on false numbers... and is aimed at deceiving voters,' he added.
Orban reiterated that Fidesz, if it wins elections, would probably rewrite the 2010 budget.
Orban said earlier that he could see Hungary running a higher deficit in order to take measures to boost the economy which is struggling with a deep recession.
He said on Monday that spending items missing from the draft budget include covering the central bank's expected losses, and consolidating state railway company MAV, Budapest public transport firm BKV and state-owned bank MFB.
The consolidation of loss-making hospitals would cost 110 billion forints ($601.8 million) and state guarantees in the health care sector and other items can further widen the deficit, he added.
Analysts in a Reuters poll last month projected a deficit of 3.9 percent of GDP for both 2009 and 2010, while Finance Minister Peter Oszko has said the deficit targets remained achievable both this year and next.
The fourth review of Hungary's performance by the IMF and the EU is currently underway.
Fidesz has a huge lead over the ruling Socialists in opinion polls ahead of general elections which are scheduled for April or May 2010.
(Reporting by Sandor Peto, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) ($1=182.78 Hungarian Forint) Keywords: HUNGARY BUDGET/OPPOSITION (sandor.peto@thomsonreuters.com; +36 1 327 4744; Reuters Messaging sandor.peto.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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