Zoltán Bodnár told an online press conference that the latest report of the Central Statistical Office again showed record-high inflation for January.

Headline inflation was 25.7%, harmonised inflation, adjusted for better comparison with other European Union member states, was 26.2%, and inflation calculated with a basket of goods and services used by pensioners was 27.4%, he added.

Nowhere else in Europe is inflation as high as in Hungary and the reason behind it is that “actually, it is inflation caused by Orbán”, he said. Core inflation was 25.4%, over five times more than the EU average.

The basic condition for stopping inflation is the government’s departure, he said. After that, the forint needs to be strengthened and “EU funds suspended because of Viktor Orbán must be brought back”.

Global trust in the Hungarian economy and the forint must be recovered and a target date must be set for joining the euro, he added. Ruling Fidesz in response said that the record-high inflation had proven that sanctions by Brussels caused “incredible damage”, noting soaring energy and fuel prices.

“The ones talking about inflation are the same dollar left which has jumped without thinking to support every sanction imposed by Brussels in exchange for the money of foreign powers,” the party said in a statement.

It said the government was working on measures to bring inflation down into the single digits and would protect Hungarians with utility bill cuts, price caps, a pension increase and the payment of a 13th month pension.