Hungary’s Prime Minister Péter Magyar has pledged a substantial increase in family allowance next year, while also promising a new constitution and electoral law by 2030.
‘A large-scale increase’ in family allowance
Péter Magyar has promised a major increase in Hungary’s family allowance in 2027, although he stopped short of giving a specific figure or saying exactly when the higher payments would begin. Speaking on Kossuth Radio’s Felkelő programme on Monday, Magyar said the increase would be implemented despite the difficult budgetary situation inherited from the previous government.
“I can guarantee that there will be a large-scale increase in family allowance,” the prime minister said, adding that the measure would form part of the 2027 budget.
Magyar said his government had taken over with a budget deficit of 8.3 per cent, but had managed to reduce the shortfall by HUF 1,000 billion (EUR 2.5 billion) in three months.
He stressed that maintaining the balance of the state budget and reducing the deficit remained the government’s most important task. Decisions on measures including public-sector pay rises, personal income tax cuts and the family allowance increase would therefore be made together when preparing the 2027 budget.
Family allowance in Hungary has not been increased since 2008.
Child protection workers to receive 20–25% pay rise
The prime minister also discussed the situation in Hungary’s child protection system following the publication of a recent report, which he said showed that the sector was “on the brink of collapse”. Workers in child protection and social services are set to receive a 20–25 per cent pay rise, with the first half of the increase arriving with November salaries and the remainder in January.
Magyar acknowledged that the measure would not solve all the sector’s problems, saying salaries remained “humiliatingly low” in areas such as child protection, healthcare and law enforcement. He said the government would place education, healthcare and child protection among its key priorities.
The government is also preparing amendments to Hungary’s child protection legislation. Magyar said the bill would be submitted to Parliament on Monday and could help Hungary avoid an EU fine linked to the child protection law adopted by the previous government.
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New constitution and electoral law promised by 2030
Magyar also confirmed that his government aims to adopt a new constitution and a new electoral law before 2030. Asked whether both would be adopted during the current parliamentary term, Magyar answered “yes”, while adding that he could not guarantee when they would actually enter into force.
He said the government’s preferred approach would be to adopt the new constitution first and then have it confirmed by referendum. Magyar stressed that the Tisza political community was highly diverse, but said its members agreed that they did not want to build a political system resembling the one that preceded them.
He also said a body overseeing the constitutional process could be established by the end of September.
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Magyar rejects concerns over Tisza becoming ‘another NER’
The interview also touched on criticism that Tisza could eventually reproduce the political system associated with the previous government.
Magyar rejected this possibility and said the party did not want to “occupy” the Constitutional Court or public media. He also called for parity in the process of selecting members of the Constitutional Court and said Fidesz should take part in the process.
Asked about the recent 444.hu report of internal tensions within Tisza, including disagreements surrounding party politician Márk Radnai, Magyar said he had “full trust” in Radnai. He argued that disagreements were natural in a rapidly growing political community bringing together people from many different backgrounds.
“We discussed these conflicts,” Magyar said, stressing that Tisza did not operate on the principle that one leader decides everything and removes anyone who disagrees.
A more measured tone in Parliament?
The prime minister was also asked about the heated exchanges in Parliament. Magyar said he understood the criticism of his tone and acknowledged that it could be difficult to resist responding sharply when facing attacks from people who had themselves used insulting language against others.
However, he said he would try to moderate his approach. “The responsibility of someone in government is always greater,” he said.
