Honourable House, Honourable Speaker, Honourable National Assembly,
In accordance with our constitutional traditions, at the beginning of this spring session of Parliament I will deliver a report to the Honourable House on behalf of the Government.
First of all, I would like to remind you that between the two sessions Hungary was hit by extreme weather conditions. The snow conditions required rapid decisions and measures. An operational task force was set up to coordinate the necessary work, we rescued those who needed to be rescued, and we offered care to those who were in need of it. We deployed nearly 800 vehicles and 2,300 people. The cost of the defence measures, which was covered by the budget, exceeded 10 billion forints. Just as with the heavy snowfall in January, this weekend we managed to overcome the extraordinary conditions that developed in Western Hungary. I can inform you that this time 12,000 homes were left without electricity, and a 40-kilometre-long section of the network was disabled. According to this morning’s reports, only eighty-five homes are still without electricity. I would like to thank everyone who took part in this work. In January the extreme cold also put a strain on family budgets, and so the Government decided to cover 30 per cent of the cost of their gas bills for the month. This is the energy bill cap. The necessary funds, amounting to 55 billion forints, will be provided by energy traders and energy producers, as well as from the budget reserves. With all due modesty, I must point out that Hungary has been the only country in Europe able to do this.
Honourable House,
As far as the economy is concerned, on 1 January we increased the family tax allowance by 50 per cent. This means that, together with the 50 per cent increase last July, we have doubled it. This has increased the income of one million families. As of 1 January this year, mothers under the age of 40 with two children and all mothers under the age of 30 have lifetime income tax exemption. This follows on from the same measure for mothers with three or more children. With these measures, we have now exempted half a million mothers from paying income tax. Over the next three years, all mothers with two children – regardless of age – will be exempt from personal income tax, meaning that within three years a total of one million Hungarian mothers will have lifetime tax exemption. This is unprecedented! This is unique to Hungary, Honourable House.
The Government has decided to introduce a fourteenth month’s pension. We paid the first instalment, for this year, at the beginning of February. In addition to the thirteenth and fourteenth months’ pensions, on 1 January this year pensions increased by 3.6 per cent. I would like to inform the Honourable House that, despite pressure from Brussels, we have maintained – and continue to maintain – protection of energy prices, which is why Hungarian families continue to pay the lowest gas and electricity bills in the European Union. At an average rate of consumption, we are talking about an annual energy bill of 250,000 forints. Meanwhile, for the same gas and electricity consumption, people in Poland have to pay 800,000 forints, and in the Czech Republic more than one million forints.
Honourable House,
As you know, on 1 September we launched the strongest home creation programme since the fall of communism: the fixed 3 per cent loan scheme. This involves a 10 per cent down payment, a fixed 3 per cent interest rate, and a 50-million-forint credit line, for a term of up to 25 years. I would like to report to the Honourable House that approximately 25,000 contracts had already been signed by mid-February. The development of tens of thousands of new family homes and condominiums is underway, which represents a huge investment and will create thousands of new jobs for the entire Hungarian economy. I can report to the Honourable House that, as of 1 January 2026, the minimum wage has increased by 11 per cent to 322,800 forints, and the guaranteed wage minimum has increased by 7 per cent to 373,200 forints. The Government’s goal is to continue this growth in the next term, and to reach an average gross wage of one million forints. This goal is within reach. I would like to thank the trade unions and employers for their cooperation; they deserve most of the credit for this agreement. In addition to the minimum wage, we have also significantly increased wages in the public sector. The wages of teachers and kindergarten teachers increased by an average of 10 per cent in January, bringing their average gross earnings to 950,000 forints. We have also raised the salaries of vocational training staff by 10 per cent. These salary increases will provide more than 170,000 teachers with decent living conditions. From January this year, we have increased the wages of those working in local government offices, the cultural sector and social services by 15 per cent, affecting more than 180,000 people. In 2025 we increased the wages of those working in the water management sector by 30 per cent, a 15 per cent wage increase is coming this year, and a further 10 per cent wage increase is scheduled for 2027. I would like to inform the House that we are proceeding as planned with the three-year wage increase programme for workers in the justice system: by 2027 judges’ salaries will increase by 48 per cent, judicial clerks’ salaries by 89 per cent, and court employees’ salaries by 100 per cent. I would like to inform the House that we have paid out the six-month allowance for armed personnel, with nearly 80,000 police officers, soldiers, customs officers, border guards and officer cadets receiving the allowance.
I would like to inform the Honourable House that since October 2025, 23,000 businesses have joined the fixed 3 per cent Széchenyi Programme, which represents a total loan amount of approximately 1.2 trillion forints. I would like to inform the House that we have raised the VAT exemption ceiling for sole traders. From 1 January this is set at 20 million forints, and it will be further raised to 24 million forints. I would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for its cooperation in this. I would like to inform the House that the Government has launched a 5+1-point action plan for the hospitality industry. The programme will provide assistance to 9,500 restaurants and 3,000 confectionery businesses, worth more than 100 billion forints. I would like to inform the House that at the beginning of this year a decision was made to extend price caps in order to curb inflation. I can inform the Honourable House that in January the number of applicants for the 4-million-forint interest-free workers’ loan launched for young workers under the age of 25 surpassed 40,000. In January the number of applicants for the Rural Home Renovation Programme – which provides non-repayable grants of 3 million forints in settlements with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants – surpassed 50,000. I can inform the House that the Government has decided to launch a tender for solar panels, providing a non-repayable grant of 2.5 million forints per household. So far more than 100,000 people have applied to be part of the programme.
Honourable Members of Parliament,
I must also inform the National Assembly that, in an unprecedented move in our country’s history, since 27 January Ukraine – our eastern neighbour, which is currently at war – has been blocking oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline. I would like to inform the House that the Government has examined the situation and has concluded that there are no technical obstacles to resuming deliveries. It is up to Ukraine to decide whether or not to restart flow through the pipeline. It is becoming increasingly clear that this is a case of brazen political blackmail. It is well known that diplomatic relations between Hungary and Ukraine have reached a low point. The Ukrainians are demanding that Hungary disconnect from Russian energy, give money to Ukraine, and support Ukraine’s membership of the European Union. In addition, the Ukrainians are openly threatening the Hungarian government and its leaders personally. I would like to inform the Honourable House that the national government will not submit to any form of blackmail. The national government will not deviate from its programme under any threat, and will act in accordance with its constitutional oath. It acts solely in the interests of the Hungarian people, and will not yield to the demands of any foreign power. We insist on our independence and sovereignty. And we insist on our rights, because in 2014 the Ukrainian state signed an association agreement with the European Union, which we are therefore also parties to. Under Article 275 of the agreement, Ukraine undertook to ensure the inviolability of energy transit through its territory to the Member States of the European Union. Ukraine is therefore obliged under the EU Association Agreement to ensure Hungary’s oil supply, and not to use it as a political weapon. What Ukraine is doing now is a clear violation of the agreement. We do not accept this and insist on our rights!
Honourable House, Honourable Speaker,
Brussels’ behaviour in this matter is ambiguous, at the very least. Article 222 of the Treaty on European Union obliges the European Union to swiftly come to the aid of a Member State whose interests are harmed by the actions of a third party. Brussels has an obligation to stand by Hungary, but it is not doing so. The facts show that Brussels has sided with Ukraine, which is outside the Union, instead of with Hungary, which is a Member State.
Honourable House,
It is widely known that Hungary and Brussels have opposing positions on the war, on funding Ukraine, and on Ukraine’s membership of the European Union. Nevertheless, in the current situation Brussels must represent Hungary’s interests. The fact that it is not doing so constitutes a serious breach of the Treaty, to Hungary’s detriment. In light of the facts, Mr. Speaker, I have to say that Brussels has formed an alliance with the Ukrainians. Brussels and Kiev/Kyiv agree that as long as there is a national government at the helm in Hungary, they will not be able to carry out their plans. They cannot sever our access to Russian energy sources, we do not support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, we are not paying Ukraine, and we say no to war.
Honourable House,
All this is happening fifty days before the election. This action is therefore blatant interference in the Hungarian election. I have reason to believe that its purpose is to alter the power dynamics in order to align with the intentions of Brussels and Kiev/Kyiv. But I would like to remind everyone that in Hungary it will be the Hungarian people who will decide on this matter.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable House,
The Government has averted the emergency caused by the Ukrainians. We have opened up our strategic oil reserves and secured the country’s energy supply. Now everyone can see and experience in reality what it means to be disconnected from Russian energy. It would create a state of emergency and financially ruin hundreds of thousands of Hungarian families. Petrol prices of 1,000 forints and household energy bills increasing by multiples are clearly unaffordable for families. Large Western energy companies such as Shell would profit greatly from this, but Hungarians would suffer. The Government is not on the side of energy companies or Shell, but on the side of the people. This morning the price difference between Western and Russian oil was 13 dollars per barrel. Anyone who claims that reductions in energy bills can be sustained without Russian energy is either a fool or a liar.
Honourable House,
The Government has also decided on countermeasures. In consultation with Slovakia, we have stopped diesel shipments to Ukraine. In addition, the Government has vetoed the disbursement of 90 billion euros to Ukraine, which was previously approved without Hungary’s participation and without placing any financial burden on us. And the Government has decided to veto the twentieth package of war sanctions, which is being put forward for adoption today in Brussels. In Brussels today we announced that we shall block any decision in Brussels that supports Ukraine, until Ukraine allows Russian crude oil to pass through to Hungary.
Honourable House, Honourable Speaker,
The Russo–Ukrainian war continues. Every week 9,000 people are killed or maimed in the Ukrainian–Russian war. This amounts to 36,000 people in a month, and 400,000 in a year. This is an irreplaceable loss and an incomprehensible tragedy. And the war is consuming unimaginable financial resources. So far the European Union has spent around 200 billion euros on Ukraine. The price of electricity and natural gas in Europe today is three to four times higher than in the US and China. Europe is destroying its own competitiveness. With such a disparity in energy prices, European companies cannot compete – and cannot be expected to compete – with firms from China and the United States. I can inform the House that in recent years one million jobs have been lost in European industry. The chemical and automotive industries are suffering particularly badly. In Poland 278,000 jobs have been lost, in the Czech Republic 161,000, in Romania 144,000, and in Germany 129,000. Based on all this, I am convinced that it is in Europe’s interest to have peace – in other words, to end the war as soon as possible. I can inform the Honourable House that the opposite is happening. Brussels is supporting continuation of the war – openly supporting it. When presenting its strategy to the prime ministers, the Commission claimed that the Russians are still able to bear the burden of war, but not for much longer. The Commission says that the Russians will be severely weakened economically, and forced to accept a peace favourable to Ukraine and the European Union. The viewpoint of Brussels – which it openly states – is that therefore the war must be continued, because that is how it can be won and how a favourable peace can be achieved.
Honourable House,
The Hungarian government is convinced that this war strategy is misguided. To our knowledge there are no facts to support Brussels’ war strategy. Our expectation is that Russia will be able to operate its war economy and military machine for years to come. We believe that Ukraine and Europe will run out of military supplies, money and deployable manpower sooner than Russia. Moreover, Russia has nuclear weapons, and there has been no answer to the question of how a nuclear power can be defeated.
Honourable Members of Parliament,
Europe cannot afford this war; it will collapse and be mired deep in debt for decades. The Government’s position is that Hungary must stay out of this. I can inform the House that, in addition to the approximately 200 billion euros already spent, the following financial expenditures are in prospect for Europe. Firstly, 90 billion euros for 2026 and 2027. Secondly, 360 billion euros for Ukraine in the next budget, to the detriment of development and agricultural subsidies, which will be reduced by 20 per cent. Thirdly, the Commission has announced and presented the Ukrainian “Prosperity Plan”, which amounts to 800 billion dollars. Fourthly, the Ukrainians have also announced their demand for 700 billion euros in military spending.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable House,
Rustling up that much money will be impossible. There is not that much money in the EU’s common budget. Nor is there that much money in the budgets of the Member States – not only in ours, the Hungarian budget, but in any of the Member States! Brussels’ policy is a direct path to Europe’s complete indebtedness. Five Member States already have debt exceeding 100 per cent of their gross domestic product, and several others are approaching that level. What Brussels is doing is hugely irresponsible – not only in military, strategic and geopolitical terms, but also in economic terms; in fact, it is courting disaster. Furthermore, Honourable House, I can inform you that the first written agreements have been signed between France and the United Kingdom, stating that they are prepared to station troops on Ukrainian territory – and Germany has expressed its willingness to join in.
Honourable House,
However painful it may be, we must face the fact that Brussels and the major European countries are preparing for war with Russia. The consequences of this are incalculable. It is easy to see, however, that in such a war Hungary can only lose. This is also shown by our historical experience of war. Therefore I respectfully ask this House, I ask the National Assembly, Mr. Speaker, to support the Government in keeping Hungary out of the war and defending it against the security and financial consequences of the war.
Thank you for your kind attention.
