Hungary prepares 2026 budget amendment with 300 billion forint withdrawal

A draft amendment for the 2026 Hungarian budget has been prepared and is currently before the Budget Council. The proposal includes a total resource withdrawal of 300 billion forints this year. Negotiations are ongoing between ministries—specifically health, education, and transport—to determine how much each sector must contribute to the central budget.

Finance Minister András Kármán stated that the government is reviewing the 2026 budget to present a more responsible supplementary budget to Parliament. He noted that while July data showed a 524 billion forint surplus and a reduction in the seven-month deficit, the current fiscal situation still reflects a “difficult legacy” from the previous administration. The government aims to submit a realistic budget by the end of August and begin planning the 2027 budget, which is expected to be presented to Parliament by the end of October.

Economist Péter Ákos Bod also commented on the economic and fiscal policy during the first hundred days of the administration, noting that the 2027 budget and potential tax policy changes will be critical in addressing concerns raised by domestic and foreign analysts.