A large part of the profits from banks, insurance companies, large retail chains, energy companies, telecom companies and airlines from the years 2022 and 2023 should flow into two newly created funds. Orban announced this in a Facebook video on Wednesday evening. Only on Tuesday did the Hungarian prime minister announce that Hungary’s national state of emergency due to the war in Ukraine would be extended – the eXXpress reported.
These are intended to finance national defense and to cap consumer energy prices. The Hungarian government has been supporting energy costs for small consumers since 2013, and in recent months officially capped prices for fuel and certain staple foods.
Orbán declared on Wednesday that the war in Ukraine is dragging on and “Brussels’ sanctions policy is not improving,” all of which are leading to “drastic price hikes.” It would therefore become increasingly difficult and costly to “protect the families”.
In addition, the Hungarian army must also be strengthened immediately, the prime minister said in his video message. Further details are to be announced at the regular government press conference on Thursday.
In the sixth EU package of sanctions against Russia, Hungary is interfering, primarily because of a planned embargo on imports of Russian oil. Budapest is demanding billions in subsidies as compensation – the eXXpress reported.
