Contrary to current trends, closing shops on Sundays is a proposal that has been put forward to parliament by the KDNP (Christian Democrat party), an ally of the governing party Fidesz. Even though Viktor Orban’s government has declared that no decision has been formally taken, a draft bill was put to parliament on November 8. Union opinion is divided because, even if the social reasons behind the bill are understandable, they fear an increase in unemployment. The MBSZ (Hungarian Association of Shopping Centres), which organizes the capital’s main shopping centers criticized this measure that is a cloaked attack on the big foreign brand names present in the country that benefit greatly from Sunday opening.
Discriminatory provisions. The KDP position is not new since they have been pushing for a ban on Sunday opening since 2010. Currently most shops open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 18.00 and also open on Sundays, making Sunday shopping an integral part of Hungary’s community habits. This is why the KDNP wants “to put Sunday back in its place” as one day off a week for most people in the country, and as a day where families can come together. The proposal allows Saturday opening from 06.00 to
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