Hungary opposition rallies against pension changes

[Joanne98]

Thousands of supporters of the Hungarian Socialist party protested on Saturday against planned pension changes in the largest opposition rally since the centre-right Fidesz government took office in May.

On Wednesday the government announced steps that would force the country's 3 million private pension fund members back into the state pension regime in a reversal of a 1997 pension reform.

The plans, which private funds have denounced as an open attempt at nationalisation, sparked a sell-off in Hungarian assets and provoked outrage among supporters of the Socialists, who were ousted from power in an April election.

Private pension funds hold approximately 3 trillion forints ($14.23 billion) in assets.

The leader of the main opposition Socialists told a crowd gathered in a sports hall in Budapest that his party would call street protests against the pension plans and other measures.

"We send the message to the government that if it does not change its arrogant style and politics, we will go the street in the spring to shout with tens of thousands: That's enough!," Attila Mesterhazy told a cheering crowd of 10,000 supporters.

http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=66774

Another RW government under attack. lol