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»Out of service«: Locked petrol pump on December 6, 2022 in Budapest
Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP
In the end, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had to pull the emergency brake.
Because of serious supply bottlenecks, Hungary's government has lifted the petrol price cap that has been in place for more than a year with immediate effect.
A corresponding regulation appeared late Tuesday evening in the Hungarian Official Gazette.
The step was taken at the suggestion of the mineral oil company MOL and applies with immediate effect, said Orbán's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas.
At the same time, he blamed the oil embargo imposed on Russia by the EU because of the Ukraine war for the situation.
Since November 1, 2021, motorists in Hungary have only had to pay 480 forints (1.17 euros) for a liter of premium unleaded (95 octane) or a liter of diesel.
The measure, which is reviewed every three months, was last extended again in September and should initially apply until the end of the year.
The regulation recently led to bottlenecks in the supply of fuel for vehicles.
Foreign petroleum companies were not interested in supplying petrol to Hungary at prices below market value.
According to the domestic mineral oil company MOL, there was a 30 percent drop in imports, and repair work at one of the country's refineries had aggravated the situation.
The group could no longer meet the increased demand for cheap fuel.
Many petrol stations ran out of petrol and queues formed in front of the pumps.
According to experts, there were signs of a collapse in the fuel supply throughout Hungary.
The media reported panic buying and published photos of long queues of cars in front of gas stations in many places.
According to an AFP reporter, there was also no petrol at many petrol stations in the capital, Budapest.
Bottlenecks had also threatened in the past.
The government had therefore increasingly restricted the circle of those entitled to claim.
Since last May, only vehicles registered in Hungary can be refueled at a reduced price.
In July, the regulation was limited to vehicles owned by private individuals.
mmq/dpa/AFP
