Viktor Orban, in the midst of an electoral campaign, announced the suspension of utility bills for January

Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, has decided to freeze utility bills for the month of January, a measure aimed at the entire population, in the context of the parliamentary elections in April 2026. The announcement was made after Orbán signaled the Government's intention to intervene on utility costs, justifying the measure by the extremely cold weather. Households are facing unexpected expenses, and the state will cover the additional energy costs for heating, estimating a consumption 30% higher than usual.

The measure will cost approximately 50 billion forints, equivalent to over 130 million euros, covered by the public budget. This joins other populist decisions made by the government, such as the introduction of additional pensions and the elimination of income tax for mothers under 30 years old. However, Orbán's policies have placed Hungary at the bottom of the EU in terms of living standards, despite these social measures.