Cheaper fuel prices will return in Hungary? – UPDATED

Lawmakers of opposition Jobbik on Wednesday submitted a proposal to lower taxes on fuel, in light of the government’s announcement of scrapping the price caps on fuel, deputy party leader Róbert Dudás said.

Dudás called for the government to start talks with the European Commission on reducing the VAT and excise tax on fuel prices. The government should at the same time stop counting on “extra profits” from taxing high fuel prices, he told an online press conference. He called for restoring fuel supply first at the 500-600 small pumps in the countryside, arguing that “the everyday life of locals depend on the operation of these pumps that are facing closure”.

Read alsoWill Hungary’s forint get stronger or weaker due to the government’s latest decision?

Other opposition demands protection for Hungarians after govt scrapping fuel price caps

Green opposition LMP said that scrapping the price caps is only “a partial remedy” to problems emerging in the transport sector. “The sudden increase in fuel prices will put a burden on many families,” Erzsébet Schmuck, the co-leader of the party told a press conference, said. LMP urges “a green reform”, calling on the government to support renewable energy while phasing out fossil fuels, she said.

Bence Tordai, the deputy group leader of Párbeszéd, told a press conference that by scrapping the fuel price cap, “the government is starting to admit that they are incompetent as well as sticky-handed.” He called for the support of community transport and people rather than fossil fuels. He proposed introducing a utility voucher to compensate families for the price increases and introducing a four-day work week in a bid to reduce energy consumption.