The news in Hungarian
A Kúria, Magyarország legfelsőbb bírósága, elutasította , hogy december 24-e munkaszüneti nap legyen. A népszavazást előzőleg a Nemzeti Választási Bizottság elfogadta, de később jogi aggályok merültek fel. A Jobbik továbbra is próbálkozik a javaslattal. Lengyelországban már sikerült december 24-ét munkaszüneti nappá tenni, ami példaként szolgálhat.
Translation
The Curia, Hungary's highest court, has rejected the proposal to make December 24th a public holiday. The referendum was initially approved by the National Election Office, but later legal concerns were raised. The Jobbik party continues to pursue the proposal. In Poland, December 24th has already been made a public holiday, which could serve as an example.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: Which political party is continuing to propose making December 24 a public holiday in Hungary?
The Jobbik party is continuing to propose making December 24 a public holiday in Hungary.
Question 2: In which country has December 24 already been made a public holiday?
In Poland, December 24 has already been made a public holiday.
Exercise: Vocabulary
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▌10/02/2025
In Hungary, a proposal to declare December 24th, Christmas Eve, a public holiday was recently rejected by the Kúria, the country's supreme court. This decision came after the national election committee had initially approved a referendum on the matter, which was, however, contested by individuals leading to the Kúria's intervention.
The proposal was initiated by the Trade Union of Commercial Employees in collaboration with the opposition party Jobbik. Their intention was to allow Hungarians to dedicate this day entirely to family and festive preparations without work-related obligations. While the National Election Committee had authorised the referendum, the Kúria overruled this decision, citing legal inconsistencies.
The Kúria stated that the referendum would lead to legal issues, potentially requiring a constitutional amendment, which is not permissible under current Hungarian law. The decision highlighted problems such as the lack of clarity and the extent to which the proposed holiday would affect existing laws and workplace norms.
Hungary's Bid to Make Christmas Eve a Public Holiday Rejected (Illustration)
Despite this setback, Jobbik has announced its intention to persist with the initiative. They plan to propose a similar measure this year, hopeful for success in future attempts.
The Kúria's decision comes in contrast to recent developments in Poland, where legislative changes have successfully established December 24th as a holiday. Polish lawmakers passed the change through a legal process, ensuring that Christmas Eve will be a recognised holiday starting from 2025. This situation has been used by the Trade Union of Commercial Employees to counter arguments against the feasibility of such a holiday in Hungary, particularly concerning the economic impact of additional public holidays.
Hungary currently counts 11 national public holidays, while Poland will have 14 days off from 2025. This comparison has been a focal point in ongoing debates about whether Hungary’s economy can accommodate more non-working days.
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