Opening the briefing, Minister Gulyás said that at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, the government evaluated the latest threats coming from Ukraine. In recent days, both military and political threats were voiced, including statements by a military leader close to President Volodymyr Zelensky who threatened Hungary with crossing the border. These hostile remarks were directed at a NATO and EU member state by a country that is not a member of either organization, he emphasized.
The minister also described President Zelensky’s five-point accelerated accession plan, which became public through Politico, as “Brussels’ Pravda.”
According to Minister Gulyás, the plan clearly states that the patriotic Hungarian government should be removed and replaced with a pro-Ukrainian leadership.
“We consider any interference in Hungarian domestic politics unacceptable, whether it comes from Ukraine or from Brussels,” Minister Gulyás stressed. He added that the government’s response to these attempts is the national petition, which has seen particularly strong participation.
Minister Gulyás reiterated that Hungary remains on the side of peace and continues to reject European Union efforts that would prolong the war. He also reacted to the European Parliament’s approval of a €90 billion aid package for Ukraine, underlining that Hungary’s position remains unchanged.
Turning to economic matters, the minister confirmed that the government has decided to maintain the price margin reduction. He emphasized that the measure has contributed to favorable inflation data, with January inflation slowing to 2.1 percent, below market expectations and below the central bank’s target. While multinational companies naturally pursue profits, keeping prices under control serves Hungarian families and remains an effective tool in containing inflation, he said.
On infrastructure, Minister Gulyás reported that the recent cold and wet weather has resulted in potholes on 4,500 road sections. The government has allocated HUF 8.2 billion to address the issue, with more than 1,000 workers repairing roads on weekdays and nearly 500 also working on weekends. The most dangerous potholes are being fixed within one day.
Government spokesperson Eszter Vitályos announced that the 13th-month pension and the first quarterly installment of the 14th-month benefit will begin to be transferred to eligible recipients on February 13.
Responding to questions, Minister Gulyás confirmed that law enforcement administrative employees will receive a one-time gross bonus of HUF 400,000, while a wage increase starting next January may also be considered.