Well, László, the situation is that there is a concept called real wages. This means that inflation is taken into account, and it measures how much wages have increased above inflation. So inflation itself is already factored in. In this comparison, Hungary recorded a 3% increase above inflation, which puts us ahead of other European countries. What’s more, for next year – or rather by the end of this year – a 3.5% increase is expected from us. That would place Hungary first in Europe in terms of growth rate as well. This has also been stated by a foreign analytical firm, so I hope this helps clarify things.
This is what real wages mean: how much wages have grown beyond price increases, in other words, how much more our money is actually worth. Last year in Hungary this was 3%, which is outstanding in Europe, and this year a foreign analytical firm expects a 3.5% increase from us. Hungarian real wages have been rising continuously since September 2023 – that is, for almost two and a half years now. 📈
By the way, if we look at the full cycle, the minimum wage increased by 61.5% from 2022 to 2026. And if we take the new tax allowances into account, these increases are even greater. All this happened while the forint has remained practically just as strong against the euro as in 2022, if not stronger.
👉 And all of this took place while a war has been raging in a neighboring country throughout the entire cycle, energy prices were soaring, the European economy was grinding to a halt, and Hungary was being constantly pressured from Brussels. This is a major achievement, brought about by the joint work of the Hungarian people and the policies of the national government. This is what we intend to continue, which is why Viktor Orbán has set the goal of an average wage of one million forints and a minimum wage of 400,000 forints.
🎯 Core Function (Real Purpose)
The text is not an objective analysis of the real situation of wages, but rather:
- the defusing of economic dissatisfaction (“it’s not bad, you just don’t understand it”),
- the infantilization of the critical questioner (“dear László…”),
- the heroization of government performance,
- the pre-emptive closure of the electoral choice.
👉 The conclusion is not drawn at the end, but is predetermined from the outset:
Fidesz = economic success = security
1️⃣ “Real wages” as a magic word (technocratic silencing)
“there is a term called real wages”
🔹 Technique: expert framing + gatekeeping
🔹 What it does:
- Portrays the questioner as someone who does not understand basic concepts.
- Shifts the debate to a linguistic/technical level, instead of lived experience.
🔻 The trick:
Real wages are an average, while the argument:
- says nothing about the median wage,
- says nothing about the consumption basket of low-income earners,
- ignores delayed inflationary effects (housing, loans, food).
2️⃣ “We are first in Europe” – ranking without context
“we outperform the other European countries”
🔹 Technique: ranking propaganda + context stripping
🔹 What is missing:
- compared to which countries,
- from what baseline,
- after what scale of previous decline.
🔻 Reality:
After a previous dramatic fall in real wages, the rebound can look statistically strong,
while living standards still lag behind.
3️⃣ “A foreign analyst firm” – unverifiable authority
“this is also written by a foreign analyst firm”
🔹 Technique: anonymous authority
🔹 Effect:
- lends apparent credibility,
- while remaining unverifiable.
❗ No name, no methodology, no comparison framework.
This is not evidence, but a rhetorical crutch.
4️⃣ Minimum wage +61.5% – absolute number, no relative reality
“from 2022 to 2026 it increased by 61.5 percent”
🔹 Technique: number shock
🔹 What is omitted:
- the cumulative effect of inflation,
- the tax and contribution structure,
- purchasing power compared to minimum wages in other countries.
➡️ Growth ≠ prosperity
If basic expenses rise faster, this is not success, but survival.
5️⃣ The forint is “just as strong” – denial of reality
“practically just as strong, if not stronger”
🔹 Technique: semantic smoothing
🔹 Problems ignored:
- volatility of the forint,
- imported inflation,
- long-term depreciation trends.
This is not an economic statement, but psychological reassurance.
6️⃣ War, Brussels, blackmail – outsourcing responsibility
“there was war… we were blackmailed from Brussels”
🔹 Technique: external enemy stacking
🔹 Purpose:
- every negative outcome has an external cause,
- every positive outcome is an internal achievement.
👉 This is the classic structure of an authoritarian narrative.
7️⃣ Messianic future vision – the one-million average wage
“Orbán Viktor has set the goal…”
🔹 Technique: promise inflation + leader centralization
🔹 Function:
Present problems are replaced with a future promise.
➡️ Not a solution, but postponement.
🔚 Final Verdict
This text:
- does not debate, it instructs and patronizes,
- does not analyze, it ranks and cherry-picks,
- does not inform, it manufactures loyalty.
📌 By definition, propaganda is:
selective truth + emotional framing + a political closing line