BUDAPEST: Hungarian lawmakers unanimously voted to slash their incomes and allowances on Monday, as prime minister Peter Magyar seeks to reduce administrative costs.
Critics had previously accused Magyar’s predecessor, nationalist premier Viktor Orban, of providing high salaries in an attempt to placate opposition deputies.
Magyar, whose party filled with political newcomers won the April 12 elections by a landslide, was among those highly critical of the practice.
All 189 representatives present in the 199-member legislature voted for the bill, submitted by the ruling Tisza party.
Under the legislation, deputies’ monthly base salaries are set to decrease by 40% to the equivalent of €3,690 before taxes, starting next month.
Base salaries will still be almost double the average national wage, but down from about three times under Orban.
The prime minister, the speaker, and members of parliamentary committees are also facing pay reductions.
Reimbursement of mobile phone bills will be scrapped entirely, alongside cuts to lawmakers’ allowances for office rent, housing, and staff.
According to Magyar, the measures will save a full year of operating costs over the current parliament’s four-year mandate as he seeks to refill the government’s coffers drained by years of alleged corruption.
“Besides humanity, it is (about) self-restraint… and humility,” Magyar told private broadcaster RTL last month, arguing for the cuts.
In the same interview, Magyar suggested that mayors’ salaries should also be cut, prompting pushback from some local leaders.
Conservative, pro-EU Magyar came to power promising wide-ranging reforms, including cracking down on corruption.
Systemic corruption cost Hungary at least 186 billion euros during Orban’s 16-year tenure, the head of the country’s anti-graft watchdog Integrity Authority Ferenc Biro estimated in an interview with investigative group De Akciokozosseg.
The autonomous public body was established in 2022 as part of reforms Orban’s government undertook to partially access EU funds withheld over rule-of-law concerns.
Investigators raided the Integrity Authority’s office in January 2025, laying out corruption accusations against Biro.
In the video interview published Sunday, Biro claimed the former justice minister told him not to carry out his duties, and he is facing criminal proceedings because he did not comply.
