Europe is rapidly heading toward an energy emergency, and removing Hungary’s utility price caps in such a situation would have tragic consequences, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a video posted on social media.
Speaking while travelling to campaign events in Békés County, Szijjártó pointed to escalating global tensions, particularly the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which he said is currently affecting around 20 per cent of global oil usage. By comparison, he noted, previous conflicts in the Gulf region disrupted only about 5 per cent.
At the same time, Europe’s gas reserves are also under pressure. According to the minister, storage levels across the European Union have dropped to just 9 per cent of annual demand, contributing to sharp price increases. In recent weeks, oil prices have risen by around 70 per cent and gas prices by 60 per cent, he said.
Szijjártó argued that the appropriate response would be to increase the supply of oil and gas on the European market. However, he claimed that the absence of Russian and certain Middle Eastern energy sources has led to the current surge in prices.
Against this backdrop, the minister criticized the energy policies proposed by the opposition Tisza Party, saying that plans to phase out Russian oil and gas would result in the abolition of Hungary’s utility price caps and regulated fuel prices.
He warned that such measures would significantly increase household costs. According to his estimates, utility bills could triple, while fuel prices could rise to around 1,000 forints per litre. For an average family, this could mean tens of thousands of forints in additional monthly expenses for energy, and up to 100,000 forints in combined extra costs when fuel is included.
Szijjártó also linked the issue to broader European policy debates, alleging that pressure from Brussels could force Hungary to abandon regulated pricing mechanisms. He stressed that the government is working to maintain access to affordable energy and to protect existing support measures.
The minister framed the issue as a key question in the upcoming elections, arguing that maintaining low utility costs and energy security remains central to the government’s agenda.
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