Government to launch five-party talks on cardinal laws

Fidesz's board decided to call for five-party talks on the most "sensitive" two-thirds laws not yet passed, the parliamentary group leader of the ruling party said on Monday.

Consultations on the election procedures law and on party financing could be concluded by June, Janos Lazar said.

The radical nationalist Jobbik and small opposition LMP parties have indicated their willingness to participate in the talks, while the Socialists will stay away from the negotiations.

Socialist deputy group leader Zoltan Lukacs said his party would not "sell itself for two laws" and demands that a number of laws should be re-negotiated.

Jobbik will participate in the negotiations, but it "does not have high hopes of effectively influencing legislation", deputy group leader Marton Gyongyosi said.

LMP considers Lazar's suggestion spurious but welcomes Fidesz's "realisation that the legislative practice of the past one and a half or two years cannot be continued", parliamentary group leader Benedek Javor said.