On Saturday, Hungary will further ease its current restrictive measures imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic, once the number of inoculated people reaches 4 million, PM Viktor Orban told Hungary s public radio.

PM Orban said the new curfew would go into effect from midnight on Saturday, with shops and catering establishments being able to stay open until 11 pm. Catering services and the seating of customers indoors, as well as visiting cinemas, theatres, zoos and similar venues will be permissible for immunity card holders.

Mr Orban also spoke of the decision to allow the vaccination of young people, aged between 16 to 18, with the BioNtech-Pfizer jab, starting after the matriculation exams and graduation.

Regarding the reopening of restaurant terraces and other measures, he emphasized that Hungary is not yet over the epidemic, therefore the prescribed pandemic rules must continue to be observed. Anyone who is not yet vaccinated can still infect others, so individual responsibility is important, he added.

In Hungary, immunity cards can be provided to those who can prove that they already had the disease or been vaccinated. Responding the ongoing constitutional debates surrounding the immunity cards, the prime minister said, after careful examination, they have dispensed the raised objections as unfounded. Thus, immunity cards will work in Hungary. He added that if the EU also decides to issue a card, that, too, will be introduced in Hungary. Until then, agreements in terms of travel rules with other countries will be made on the basis of bilateral reciprocity.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was authorised to enter into bilateral agreements with countries important to us about the mutual acceptance of each other s vaccination immunity certificates. We have already concluded an agreement with Montenegro and Serbia, and we are in talks with other countries, both neighbouring and non-neighbouring, MR Orban said.

He emphasized that Hungary was the only country in the EU which has more vaccines than the number of people who have registered for the jab. Anyone who has registered can now be inoculated in Hungary. It is a great success and we must be proud of it, he said.

He noted that 70 per cent of pro-government Hungarians are in favour of vaccination, compared to 59 per cent of left-wingers. The left is running an anti-vaccination campaign, which is why there are more people opposing the jab among leftist voters, he added.

I would like to speak to all people, and no one should listen to the anti-vaccination campaign of the left-wing parties. They are not harming the government, only themselves. Vaccination is a national issue, he pointed out.

In terms of restarting of the economy, an Operative Board will be established for that task, PM Orban said, adding that the 2022 budget will also focus on restarting the country.

He emphasized that the new budget also contains numerous subsidies. Crisis management by left-wing governments was based on deprivation, but this government will pay the second week of the 13th-month pension, and is planning full tax exemption for people aged under 25 from 2022 onwards, so that young people would be in a better position to start their an independent life, the prime minister said.