Hungary offers tax breaks and benefits to bolster birth rate

VIKTOR ORBÁN, the Hungarian prime minister, announced new tax and loan benefits for families yesterday as part of his government’s efforts to increase the birth rate while holding a hard line against immigration.

Mr Orbán, an outspoken critic of mass immigration to Europe, said that while the West saw migrants as a solution to a declining birth rate, Hungary wanted “Hungarian children”.

His ruling Fidesz party faces European Parliament and local government elections this year after a string of protests in recent months against his rule, although the party still leads in opinion polls.

As Mr Orbán gave his annual state of the nation speech yesterday, several hundred protesters gathered outside the presidential palace in Budapest.

The new measures include the expansion of a loan programme for families with at least two children to help them buy homes, subsidies for car purchases and waiving personal income tax for women raising four children.

Women below 40 who marry will be eligible for a loan worth £27,400.