Latest news with #Gulyás
Budapest Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Gulyás: Country where conscripts are beaten to death is ‘not ready for EU membership'
In connection with a report the cabinet meeting heard on the Ukrainian situation, Gergely Gulyás, Head of the Prime Minister's Office, told a regular government press briefing that a country where someone 'is beaten to death during forced conscription is not ready to become a member of the European Union'. Gulyás said so far, not all EU member states had aligned themselves with Hungary's 'firm stance'. 'We're also taken aback since the Hungarian man who lost his life was a Ukrainian as well as a Hungarian citizen, so we're talking about a European Union citizen,' he said. 'So Hungary has called on the EU to place those who took part in the man's murder … on the EU sanctions list,' he said, adding that if the EU failed to do so, Hungary would take the case into its own hands, 'and we will take action'. Gulyás said the case was not an 'isolated problem', and he referred to a Council of Europe human rights report condemning Ukraine's forced conscription practices.
Budapest Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Budapest Times
Gulyás: EU's draft budget for the next 7-year funding cycle is ‘unacceptable'
The draft budget allocates 88 billion euros for Ukraine and another 190 billion for its EU accession, accounting for around a quarter of the total budget. Gergely Gulyás, Head of the Prime Minister's Office, said on Wednesday that the European Union's draft budget for the next seven-year funding cycle is 'unacceptable', arguing that it would cut cohesion and agricultural funding for member states in order to 'divert them to Ukraine'. Gulyás told a regular government press briefing that the draft budget allocates 88 billion euros for Ukraine and another 190 billion for its EU accession, accounting for around a quarter of the total budget. The money would be diverted from cohesion funds and the agricultural subsidies that are critical for central and southern Europe, Gulyás said, expressing the government's agreement with protests by Hungarian and European farmers. Gulyás called on all Hungarian political players to condemn the European Commission's draft budget, saying that 'anyone who supports this budget in its current form, considers Ukraine to be more important than Hungary'. While diverting subsidies to Ukraine, money that Brussels spends on its own bureaucracy will be increased, he said, adding that 2,500 new hires and salary rises were on the cards. Hungary will stick up for its own interests and those of Central Europe, and insist on the return to 'an objective cohesion policy free from conditionality used to blackmail the member states'. It also insists on farm subsidies remaining in their current form, he said. Gulyás said no one was under the illusion that the budget could be passed in the next 10 months. The commission, he added, wanted it to be adopted in the second half of 2026, 'and this gives member states an opportunity to protest'. The budget can only be adopted unanimously, he added. Meanwhile, he said a subsidised credit programme for first-time home buyers is set to start on Sept 1. Gulyás said public consultations on the home loan scheme would start early in the coming week, adding that the banking system was ready for the roll-out on September 1.
Budapest Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Budapest Times
Gergely Gulyás: Whoever supports this budget, finds Ukraine more important than Hungary
At today's Government Info press briefing, Minister Gergely Gulyás described the draft as a 'pro-Ukraine budget' and emphasized that Hungary cannot support it in its current form. According to the minister, the leaked proposal allocates a quarter of the EU's entire budget—€190 billion for Ukraine and €88 billion for enlargement purposes—while cutting funding for cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy. 'They're taking money away from farmers and cohesion and sending it to Ukraine. Anyone who supports this is placing Ukraine ahead of Hungary,' Gulyás declared. The government expressed full solidarity with Hungarian farmers protesting the cuts. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had earlier warned that the proposal would make European farmers the biggest losers while positioning Ukraine as the primary beneficiary. 'This draft cannot even serve as a basis for negotiations,' Gulyás asserted, adding that the Commission also aims to expand EU bureaucracy by hiring 2,500 new employees and increasing their salaries—moves the Hungarian government considers unjustifiable. In response, Hungary is calling on all political actors to reject the Commission's proposal and reaffirm their support for a cohesive agricultural policy that benefits all EU citizens. The government also urged a return to an objective cohesion policy, free from political conditionality. Beyond budget issues, the government introduced the 'Home Start' loan program. Starting September 1, working Hungarians without their own home will be eligible for a 3% mortgage loan of up to HUF 50 million. The loan—available for a maximum of 25 years—can be used for flats priced up to HUF 100 million or houses up to HUF 150 million, with a price cap of HUF 1.5 million per square meter. The regulatory framework will be finalized by early August. The briefing also addressed growing concerns about Ukraine's internal practices. Minister Gulyás condemned the recent death of Sebestyén József, a Hungarian-Ukrainian dual citizen who died from injuries sustained during violent forced conscription. He stated that any country where such practices occur is unfit for EU membership. 'He was not only Ukrainian, but a European Union citizen,' Gulyás said, calling the lack of response from other EU member states 'shocking.' Hungary has proposed adding three Ukrainian military officials involved in the case to the EU sanctions list.
Budapest Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Gulyás: There are no plans for a fuel price cap, but action must be taken if necessary
'There are no plans for a fuel price cap at this time, hopefully the conflict will be resolved quickly,' the minister said, referring to rising fuel prices caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East. Gulyás noted that the government closely analyzes whether market interventions are necessary. While such measures are not desirable, they can become unavoidable under certain conditions. If prices remain persistently high, the government is prepared to initiate discussions with MOL on a potential price cap. On the subject of the Voks 2025 national consultation, Gulyás confirmed it will close at midnight on Friday. The outcome will significantly influence Hungary's position at next week's EU summit. With over two million participants, the minister emphasized that the consultation provides a clear democratic mandate for the government. Turning to economic matters, Gulyás sharply criticized recent proposals from the European Commission, such as scrapping the utility cost reduction program and lifting the interest rate cap. He stated these measures go against Hungary's national interest. The minister reaffirmed that the government will maintain its protective policies, including the interest rate cap, which will be extended beyond June 30 and currently benefits more than 250,000 families. Beyond fuel prices and economic policies, Gulyás stressed that the government remains firm on issues of national sovereignty. He accused Brussels of seeking to restrict member state competencies, particularly in relation to bans on Russian energy imports and challenges to Hungary's retail markup caps. He stated that Hungary's priority is not multinational profits but the interests of domestic workers and businesses. Responding to press inquiries, Gulyás announced that the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office will file a legal complaint concerning a video falsely claiming that no elections would be held in Hungary next year. He also reiterated that all public demonstrations, including the Pride event, fall under Hungary's Assembly Act and must be properly registered, with the police having the authority to prohibit them. In closing, Gulyás reaffirmed Hungary's commitment to remaining a member of the European Union, but made clear that the government will not accept EU decisions that conflict with Hungary's national interest.
Budapest Times
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Minister Gulyás: We are not heading toward peace, but wading deeper into war
The minister criticized Brussels for continuing to support war rather than peace. Emphasizing Hungary's ongoing commitment to a ceasefire and negotiations, the minister warned that 'war tensions are increasing, and foreign intelligence activity is intensifying' in an effort to pressure the government to give up its pro-peace stance. Minister Gulyás also congratulated President Karol Nawrocki on his election victory, expressing hope he could bolster peace-oriented positions and American efforts to broker a peace deal. Turning to domestic matters, the minister addressed the financial instability of the Budapest municipality. He blamed the Karácsony–Tisza coalition for driving the city into bankruptcy and emphasized that 'while the responsibility lies with the left-wing city leadership, every resident of Budapest must bear the burden.' The government has tasked Minister Gulyás and State Secretary Csaba Latorcai with initiating talks and overseeing a full financial audit of the capital. They stressed that any government assistance depends on restoring a lawful, transparent budget. Regarding the recent natural disaster in Parajd, Transylvania, in which the local salt mine was flooded, he said this was caused in part by human negligence. The Hungarian government has allocated HUF 10 million in emergency aid and dispatched water management experts to assist in recovery efforts. Finally, Gulyás reaffirmed that the government will enforce the child protection law during upcoming Pride events, suggesting they be held in venues that comply with legal standards, such as Kincsem Park.
