At the beginning of the spring session of parliament, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán outlined the government decisions taken between the two sessions, with a particular focus on the welfare measures that came into effect in January and the challenges facing our country. He also assessed foreign and domestic political events, with particular regard to energy security and the war situation.
The prime minister recalled that the unusually cold weather in January had also put families in a difficult situation, which is why the government had ordered a cap on utility costs, with the necessary 55 billion forints (144.74 million euros) coming from the budget reserve and the energy fund.
Viktor Orbán emphasized that family tax allowances have been doubled, and from January this year, the vast majority of mothers will be exempt from income tax.
Over the next three years, in a progressive, age-based system, all mothers with two children will be exempt from personal income tax for life. He also touched on the introduction of the 14th month pension, pension increases and the results of utility cost reductions.
Regarding the fixed 3% loan, he emphasized that 25,000 people have already applied for the support.
He recalled that from January 1, 2026, the minimum wage will be increased by 11% and the guaranteed minimum wage by 7%, and then spoke in detail about wage increases in various sectors. The prime minister emphasized that the goal is for the gross average salary to reach one million forints (2,631.58 euros) next year.
In his speech, he also referred to Ukraine’s blocking of oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline and stated that the Ukrainians were openly threatening the Hungarian government and its leaders personally, but that the national government would not give in to any blackmail.
In 2014, Ukraine signed an association agreement with the EU, part of which stipulates that energy transit through Ukraine is inviolable, and Viktor Orbán believes that Zelenskyy is in breach of this agreement.
“Brussels should put Hungary’s interests first, but it is not doing so, thus Brussels has formed an alliance with the Ukrainians because there is a national government, and we are not paying Ukraine, we are saying no to war, and we do not support membership. Ukraine is openly interfering in the Hungarian elections. All of this is open interference in the elections, so that the balance of power will change according to the intentions of Kyiv and Brussels,” pointed out the head of government, who, in connection with Ukraine’s move, emphasized that our country’s energy supply is secure.
“We can avoid gasoline costing a thousand forints and utility bills costing hundreds of thousands of forints,” said the prime minister, emphasizing that as a response, diesel deliveries to Ukraine have been halted, the 90 billion forints (236.84 million euros) war loan has been vetoed, and the 20th EU sanctions package is being boycotted.
He recalled that the EU has spent €200 billion on supporting Ukraine so far, and energy prices have risen so high that Europe is undermining its own competitiveness,
he emphasized.
“European companies cannot compete with Chinese energy prices, and many jobs have already been lost in Europe, so it is in Europe’s interest to end the war as soon as possible, although the opposite is happening, with Brussels openly supporting its continuation (…) Europe will run out of money and supplies sooner, and what is more, the Russians have nuclear power and are a nuclear superpower. Europe will collapse into this. Hungary must stay out of the war,” the prime minister emphasized.
Fact
Most recently, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán published the letter that he sent to António Costa, President of the European Council, addressing the situation regarding the Druzhba pipeline.
“The facts are stubborn things: there are no technical obstacles to restarting oil deliveries to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline; all that is needed is a political decision by Ukraine,” he wrote.
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Via MTI; Featured photo: MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd
The post “We Will Not Give In to Blackmail and Must Stay Out of the War”, Says Viktor Orbán appeared first on Hungary Today.
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