Bizonyára kevesen vannak, akik a mai bejegyzésből hallanak első ízben a CNN közelmúltbeli riportjáról, melyben nemzetgazdasági miniszterünk „magyar tündérmeséről” nyilatkozott. Helytelen azonban egy-egy szót vagy szóösszetételt kiragadni a szövegkörnyezetből, ezért az alábbiakban nem csak megnézhető, de az interjú teljes szövege is olvasható. Így aztán mindenki eredeti kontextusában értékelheti a „Hungarian fairy tale à la Matolcsy” fordulatot csakúgy, mint angol nyelvtudását.

Choose the correct word to fill in the blanks.

Matolcsy: In order to bring the deficit down we used a good deal of unconventional economic policy measures. We were the first country within the European Union introducing a bank levy, there were the crisis taxes; the formerly mandatory private pension scheme and so on and so on. However, we’ve got a Convergence Programme now. It was approved by the European Commission. And by definition it means that our fiscal condition is in order. So, it’s over... the crisis is over.

Quest: But you grew. Your economy (1)………………….(contracted/expanded) more than 1% Q on Q (quarter on quarter) in the first quarter, it’s the (2)…………(best/worst) of the Union.

Matolcsy: Of course, but when you have a look at last year’s last quarter’s GDP growth figure it was one of the best within the European Union. So it is a transitional period for the Hungarian economy, "We’ll  have - may I just say - robust economic growth figure for next year. This year is a little bit risky, you are right.

Quest: Everything I read is (3)……………….(slightly/roundly) criticising. The stewardship of the economy at the moment for the unconventional… for all the things that you know. You know these criticisms. Why are they (4)……………(right/wrong) these people who are criticising you?

Matocsy: You are absolutely right Richard, we are heavily criticised against the backdrop of the good deal of unconventional measures. But it is the future. We were forced to be innovative, creative.

Quest: Too innovative, too creative. The economists say the economy is on the wrong track.

Matolcsy: To some extent, yes, but we’ve managed to complete a successful fiscal consolidation scheme, using, of course you are right, unconventional, even unorthodox measures. But the whole European economy will go for growth and jobs and creativity. It’s badly needed to have creativity within the EU.

Quest: So when people say Hungary is headed for (5)…………….(disaster/success) and the economy is headed for the rocks, you would say they are wrong and firmly wrong.

Matolcsy: Absolutely, it’s nonsense. The Hungarian (6)………………… (nightmare/fairy tale) or the Hungarian example will be a successful one in a year’s time.

Quest: Slow growth, (7)……………..(high/low) unemployment, a deficit that’s being managed only by smoke and mirrors at the moment, (8)…………… (increased/decreased) tax – a flat tax that’s lowered the tax base.

Matolcsy: Now, all coins have two sides. We’ve got a lowering, decreasing public debt level, we've got a sustainable budget deficit level, well below 3% of the GDP, more new jobs in the economy and, of course, a transitional period for growth.

Quest: But you are going to have to backtrack on the rules on the central bank and the sooner you do it, the sooner everybody’s going to get off your back.

Matolcsy: Right, Richard, the Hungarian central bank is 100% independent.

Quest: Others (9) ……………….(do/don’t) agree with you minister.

Matolcsy: But... but... you know by definition they are independent from the government and... and... all the laws needed to make it absolutely sure for everyone will be in the Parliament and all these laws will be approved by the end of June.

Quest: I’ll ask minister where do you see the (10)……………(strengths/weaknesses) of the Hungarian economy within the European Union in the future?

Matolcsy: May I just say that I see the strengths of the whole Central European region. We’ll be the next hub for the global business community. We’ll replace the southern belt of the eurozone. With the central European region it will be a very strong region because it will be a region between Europe and Asia, between the States and the European Union. So it is the next emerging region called Central Europe, and you can find Hungary at the very heart of this region."

Answers: (1)contracted; (2)worst; (3)roundly; (4)wrong; (5)disaster; (6)fairy tale; (7)high, (8)increased; (9)don’t; (10) strengths

Expressions in the text:

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