Opposition slams Orban's remarks on containment measures in schools

Opposition parties on Friday slammed Prime Minister Viktor Orban's remarks regarding necessary measures in schools amid the new coronavirus outbreak. Socialist lawmaker Agnes Kunhalmi, the deputy head of parliament's educational committee, insisted that Orban had "threatened" teachers with placing them on unpaid leave in case of a comprehensive school shutdown. Kunhalmi noted that Hungary declared a national "state of emergency" and introduced a "special legal order" on Wednesday. In such a situation, the government has the power to deviate from legislature, she said. The government has the power under the "special legal order" to impart legislation acknowledging a shortened academic year as full, she said. Likewise, the government has the power to place teachers on paid leaves in case of a shutdown, she said.