In a preview of an interview to be aired on Kossuth Radio’s “180 Minutes” programme on Monday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Hungarian M1 television that “If we can come to an agreement with businesses on a higher increase in the minimum wage, then higher salaries and higher inflation will provide an opportunity for a greater increase in pensions”.

The Prime Minister said that if negotiations are successful, then there could be another increase in pensions of 1.6 percent, at the same level as last year, instead of the currently planned 0.9% rise.

Mr. Orbán pointed out that the Government has kept its promise to maintain the purchasing power of pensions, but he said that he realises that low inflation has caused many to feel that the upcoming increase is too small; therefore the next measure to be introduced after wage negotiations will be aimed at pensioners.

The full interview with the Prime Minister was aired on the Monday morning edition of Kossuth Radio’s “180 Minutes” programme.

(MTI)