‘We hope to improve healthcare and education’

ISTVÁN DOVÁK is waiting to have surgery to relieve water that is putting pressure on his brain. This follows two operations to remove a tumour. Wife Gyiorgyi says they will pay for the operation so he will not have to wait in a queue for the procedure.

The couple has four children and István has two by a previous marriage. They are better off than most Hungarians, with two quite good salaries coming into the house each month, although István was forced to take sick leave some months ago.

He is still on full pay of 640 a month compared to the minimum wage of 216 a month and as a pilot with Malev, the Hungarian national airline, he will qualify for a pension in two years.