An adviser to Hungary’s prime minister shared that the national consultation on sanctions against Russia could strengthen Budapest’s leverage in evaluating and potentially revising those sanctions. He spoke to the broadcast directory, outlining how the results might steer future discussions on sanctions policy.
The adviser noted that sanctions have been in place for roughly eight to ten months. He argued that it is time to examine which measures are effective and which ones fail to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Approximately 1.363 million people, from a population of about 10 million, took part in the national consultation.
Viktor Orban, the former prime minister, stated that higher energy costs driven by the Ukraine conflict and EU sanctions against Russia have imposed a significant burden on Hungary’s economy, estimating a loss of about 10 billion euros.
According to the prime minister, Hungary imported energy products worth 7 billion euros in 2021 and faced payments totaling 17 billion euros in 2022.
He added that rising energy prices are pushing the country toward a precarious situation. The minister remarked that if the Christmas angel were to lift energy sanctions immediately, energy prices would drop swiftly and visibly.