Orbán made his announcement in response to a remark by Bernadett Szél, co-leader of green LMP, who had called into question the government’s rejection of a referendum concerning the Paks upgrade. She insisted that the government had no authorisation to embark on such a project.

Orbán said the ruling parties’ “cards are on the table”, arguing that his administration had signed the framework agreement for the project before the last elections in 2014, “so that nobody can say that they are unfamiliar with the energy policy” of the government before reelecting it.

Orbán insisted that his Fidesz party supports both nuclear and renewable energies but it appears the former would be the cheapest “for a good while”.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Kovács Tamás