Hungarian PM wants to cut mayors' salaries by 40%

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has announced his intention to reduce the salaries of mayors nationwide by 40%. This measure is part of a wider austerity package targeting the public sector, following similar discussions or implementations for parliamentarians, ministers, and state company directors.

The initiative seeks a comprehensive reform of how public administration salaries are determined. Currently, mayors' incomes in Hungary are calculated based on the national average gross salary and the population of their respective settlements. For instance, mayors of localities with fewer than 500 residents receive 1.5 times the average salary, while those leading larger cities or Budapest's districts earn significantly more, with the general mayor of the capital receiving up to 6 times the national average.

This proposed reduction highlights a significant disparity in earnings, particularly when compared internationally. The mayor of Budapest currently earns approximately 4,162,000 forints (around 61,300 lei) monthly. In stark contrast, the mayor of Bucharest, Romania's capital, earns a gross salary of about 24,150 lei, more than two and a half times less than their Hungarian counterpart. In addition to base salaries, Hungarian mayors receive a 15% expense allowance, and the Budapest mayor benefits from additional facilities similar to those granted to ministers.