The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) has criticised the 15 billion forints (EUR 37.9m) earmarked by the government to be spent on the August 20 firework display. “The fireworks show is an important tradition and a good holiday programme for families, but spending this much on it is an irresponsible waste of money,” the party’s spokesman said on Saturday. Balázs Barkóczi told an online press conference that he agreed that the August 20 celebrations of the foundation of the Hungarian state were one of the most important events for the country “this amount of money cannot be spent when the state is otherwise defunct in practically all areas of life.” He pointed out inadequate air conditioning in hospitals causing postponement of surgeries, financial difficulties of thousands of families with the school-start for their children and cuts in the central budget affecting the financing of public transport. Barkóczi said that part of the 15 billion forints should be spent to remedy those problems.