Hungarians protest Internet tax

Series Title
Series Details 27.10.14
Publication Date 27/10/2014
Content Type

Thousands of Hungarians protested in Hungary's capital Budapest on 26 October 2014 against a planned new tax on Internet data transfers, which they said would not only increase the tax burden, but would also curb fundamental democratic rights and freedoms.

The Hungarian government led by Viktor Órban has during his mandates imposed special taxes on the banking, retail and energy sectors as well as on telecommunications providers to keep the budget deficit in check, jeopardising profits in some sectors of the economy and unnerving international investors.

Ryan Heath, spokesperson to outgoing European Commission Vice President for Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes said on the 28 October 2014 that the internet tax was a 'terrible idea'.

Euro|Topics covering the topic from various European newspapers on the 30 October 2014 wrote 'Hungary's governing Fidesz party has remained intransigent in the wake of mass protests at the planned introduction of an Internet tax. The tax will not be repealed, a spokesman said. Such arrogance could be the government's downfall, commentators write, viewing the protests as an expression of the dissatisfaction of many Hungarians with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán'.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/hungarians-protest-internet-tax-309509
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Bertelsmann says Orbán is out to destroy it http://www.europeansources.info/record/bertelsmann-says-orban-is-out-to-destroy-it/
EUObserver, 27.10.14: Hungary's 'internet tax' sparks protests http://euobserver.com/justice/126259
BBC News, 27.10.14: Hungarians stage Budapest protest against internet tax http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29783253
Euronews, 27.10.14: Hungary: Internet tax angers protesters http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/27/hungary-internet-tax-angers-protesters/
EurActiv, 28.10.14: Commission slams Hungary’s ‘Internet tax’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/commission-slams-hungarys-internet-tax-309559
Cink, 27.10.14: Internet tax could trip Orbán up (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/results/archiv_article/ARTICLE152637-Internet-tax-could-trip-Orban-up
Kettős Mérce, 26.10.14: Orbán's Internet tax an insult to the young (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/results/archiv_article/ARTICLE152558-Orban-s-Internet-tax-an-insult-to-the-young
EUObserver, 29.10.14: EU commission lashes out at Hungary's internet tax plan http://euobserver.com/justice/126294
Euronews, 29.10.14: Hungary: Internet tax draws thousands out in protest http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/29/hungary-internet-tax-draws-thousands-out-in-protest/
Deutsche Welle, 29.10.14: Thousands of Hungarians march against Internet tax http://dw.de/p/1DdXU
Deutsche Welle, 28.10.14: Hungary's protests are about more than Internet tax, says student protester http://dw.de/p/1DdGG
Mandiner, 29.10.14: Hungary's Internet tax bad news for small firms (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE152785-Hungary-s-Internet-tax-bad-news-for-small-firms
Euronews, 29.10.14: ‘We don’t pay tax to criminals’: Hungarian anger at internet levy http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/29/we-dont-pay-tax-to-criminals-hungarian-anger-at-internet-levy/
Euro|Topics:Main Focus, 30.10.14: Fidesz stands by Internet tax http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER152869-Fidesz-stands-by-Internet-tax

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