PM Orb¡n Warns Against Brussels’ Recommendations, Citing Potential Harm to Hungarian Families

Budapest: Prime Minister Viktor Orb¡n has raised concerns over Brussels’ country-specific recommendations, warning that compliance could “ruin half of families” in Hungary. He highlighted that the recommendations include rolling back a rate freeze that currently protects 300,000 households with mortgages. Orb¡n warned that adhering to these recommendations would put the majority of those families “on the brink of ruin”.

According to About Hungary, Orb¡n, in his weekly interview with public radio, emphasized the risks associated with lifting the rate freeze. Additionally, he noted that Brussels has urged Hungary to abolish a mandatory cap on markups, which, while benefiting Hungarian consumers by lowering prices, simultaneously diminishes the profits of large retail chains.

Further criticisms from Brussels target Hungary’s home subsidies schemes, which impact tens of thousands of Hungarians. These schemes have been labeled as “too broad and not targeted,” with Brussels describing the opportunity to purchase homes at lower costs as “market distortion,” Orb¡n explained.

Despite expressing a readiness to cooperate, Orb¡n underscored the need to prioritize the interests of the Hungarian people. He concluded that the appropriate response to the annual country-specific recommendations is to dismiss them, stating, “I close the report and say ‘thank you very much’, this is all the concern of Hungarians.”