Wednesday A demonstration will be held from 1 p.m the taxi drivers, this event was taken under the wing of one of their organizations, the Taxi Drivers’ Interests Organization. They plan to gather in Hősök square and then drive to five locations as part of their movement. After 2 p.m., the parades are organized at the following locations:
- Ministry of Construction and Transport (ÉKM);
- City Hall;
- Ministry of National Economy (MNE);
- Ministry of Finance (MoF);
- Budapest Transport Center (BKK).
In line with this, we were curious to see how unified or fragmented the demonstrating taxi community and the two actors defending their interests were. One side believes in compromise dialogue, while the other believes in silent protest affecting trafficwhile there is absolute agreement. In the meantime, the government is inclined to make new gestures towards self-employed taxi drivers.
The main demands of the Taxi Drivers’ Interest Protection Organization are the following:
- raising the limit of subject tax exemption and continuously adjusting it to the current economic environment;
- rejection of inflation-tracking taxation, which burdens the entire population in addition to businesses;
- introduce a limit on the number of taxis in the capital as well, as has already been done in other major Hungarian cities;
- they also call for further revision of the taxation system and have submitted specific proposals.
The interest protection organization has already contacted all relevant ministries and the Mayor’s Office.
There is already a partial result
On behalf of the organizer, the Taxis Interest Protection Organization László Szilágyi press coordinator stated in the introduction to our paper:
“the taxi drivers do not block the roads, but stand around marching and demonstrating, without a blockade”.
Based on his words, after Heroes’ Square, they will take turns going to the five specified locations as a tour route. He expects a quiet, peaceful parade with yellow cars.
He reminded that there were approximately 500 cars at their last parade, and their parking did not cause such a problem that it would have significantly impeded traffic.
On the other hand, the traffic in the surrounding streets may slow down somewhat, so we ask for patience from those driving there
– he added, noting that they tried to predict this congestion in front of the public.
According to his opinion, today’s weather may make all this more difficult.
Regarding the expected results of the event, László Szilágyi told Economx,
there is already a point among their demands that already seems to be fulfilled.
One of their requests consists in raising the 12 million value threshold for individual entrepreneurs to 18 million forints. He hinted that Great Martin the Minister of National Economy just confirmed on Tuesday that they plan to comply with this this year. By the way, this can affect all small entrepreneurs in Hungary.
Their other demand is the staffing limit in Budapest, in which the capital also outlines that they are inclined to amend the legislation, i.e. that the number of taxi drivers cannot be increased any further. According to the coordinator’s reasoning
this would protect the existing pool of taxi drivers and increase their quality at the same time.
In relation to Budapest, he highlighted: the city would not even be able to handle more passenger transport. That is why I would like there to be a limit for this, of which we can also see international examples. In this, they wish to obtain support from the decision-making side.
In addition to the main points, I would like to achieve the inclusion of taxi drivers in the legislative process, some KRESZ amendments, and as an interest protection organization, they are also open to discussing other regulatory issues – explained László Szilágyi to Economx.
Taxi in Budapest
Photo: MTVA/Bizományosi, Dániel Róka
Is compromise more expedient?
Zoltán Metálthe president of the National Taxi Association (OTSZ), told Economx that Wednesday’s demonstration is organized by a relatively new organization, and they did not approach the regulatory environment comprehensively. They also ask the capital city for something that is against the law.
The number of employees cannot be regulated, but it is possible to specifically determine what requirements the taxi drivers and their vehicles must meet. However, this would apply to everyone and would not elicit the support of the majority of the community, he added.
“Indirect regulation was already applied by the Metropolitan Municipality in 2013, 12 years ago”
– he enlivened, adding that the Budapest taxi ordinance was created together with the association. Then in 2015, when the regulations on transport organizations were amended, the government adopted the relevant government decree.
The head of the OTSZ explained that, in addition to these, the Passenger Transport Act and other technical regulations also regulate the taxi service. Similarly, it includes European Union regulations, which must also be taken into account. He highlighted:
the number freeze was not supported by the capital even in 2013 because it is unconstitutional. This has not changed since then.
If someone meets the conditions, they cannot be excluded from the provision of the service, stated Zoltán Metál.
He indicated that there is a point in their proposals that they agree with, but for more than ten years they believe that they believe in the supporting demonstration, taking a stand for something. This was the result in 2015.
For the past ten years, we have tried and are trying to clarify the anomalies and problems that life in the sector always brings, at the negotiating table, and try to go in a direction that can change the circumstances with a compromise proposal. That is why we are not supporters of street demonstrations.
He emphasized that the taxi association also agrees with the increase of the subject tax-free VAT limit, but this has already been requested together with the chambers. According to his words, he understands that many people are impatient, but it is also necessary to take into account that a tax gender change has an impact on the budget. The budget needs quite serious income, but the government and the ministry know the exact numbers, he added.
The president of the OTSZ considers yesterday’s announcement by the head of the NGM ministry to be a result, but at the same time, he does not consider the demonstration itself to be appropriate, as the organizers would be banging on open doors.
“You can’t sit comfortably at the negotiating table if they want to get in through the open door, but before that they break the window with a hammer” Zoltán Metál concluded his thoughts.
The success of taxi movements goes back three and a half decades
It is known that the past years and decades have been punctuated several times by taxi demonstrations and activities of various intensities and types, and in the end, all of them were able to record meaningful results in a short time. The outstanding success rate has existed in our country since, after the system change, during the taxi blockade in 1990, traffic in the capital was so paralyzed that the government of the time was forced to comply with the demands made. The main trigger at that time was the runaway price of fuel.
Source: www.economx.hu
