Hungarian government: Unlike other governments before us, we do not resort to austerity measures

Despite the war and the related costs, the government is spending HUF 3,300 billion (EUR 8.9 million) on family support and family tax benefits in next year’s budget, government spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi said in a video posted on Facebook on Wednesday.

Due to the war in Ukraine, “we have to spend more on the country’s security, energy procurement, and job protection,” Szentkirályi said.

Nevertheless, instead of cutting family support and introducing austerity measures, as other governments did before 2010, the government plans to spend HUF 3,300 billion on family subsidies in next year’s budget, she said. Szentkirályi said the government will maintain the family tax benefits, the personal income tax exemption of mothers under the age of 30, mothers raising four or more children and young people under the age of 25, and continue to support families buying their first home, among other forms of family subsidies.

Szentkirályi added that Hungarian families’ utility expenditures are also heavily subsidised and next year’s budget will also have a utility protection fund.

“The government protects the family-friendly tax system despite the war!” Szentkirályi wrote on Facebook.

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