Thousands of lorries could plunge Budapest into total chaos today as protest kicks off – updated: video

One lorry drivers’ trade union claims the government has signed a disadvantageous agreement with several industry representatives over hikes in so-called infrastructure fees. As a result, hauliers will face much steeper charges on main roads, hitting small and medium-sized Hungarian businesses hard and indirectly triggering significant price rises — particularly in food shopping. The government, meanwhile, says it is baffled by what it calls an overblown protest involving thousands of vehicles. Officials insist the aim of the agreement is to divert lorry traffic onto motorways, a move they say was approved by all key stakeholders.

Thousands of lorries could gridlock Budapest today

Thousands of lorries may descend on Budapest today along a pre-announced route: M3 slip road – Róbert Károly körút – Árpád Bridge – Szentendrei út – Batthyány utca – M0 motorway – Megyeri Bridge – M3 motorway – M3 slip road – Kós Károly sétány – Állatkerti körút – Heroes’ Square.

The demonstration and convoy are due to begin at 2 pm and conclude at 8 pm. Press reports warn that driving in Budapest this afternoon could become a nightmare, with widespread traffic disruption across the city. Blikk described the situation as “utter traffic mayhem”.

According to HVG, protesters are already heading towards the capital in long, winding convoys along the M3 motorway. To minimise disruption, they are keeping to the outer lane. The outlet has published a photo of one of the convoys.

In a move not seen since the last taxi protest, members of one trade body have mobilised after the government signed an agreement on 19 December with six other organisations to raise road tolls from 2026. Transport Minister János Lázár previously told Parliament’s budget committee that the goal is to channel lorry traffic onto motorways.

• Attention: Hungarian State Railways announced new travel passes

Can Hungarian haulers stomach the toll hikes?

Back in January, proposals were made for increases of over 50% for heavy goods vehicles on main roads, alongside a 4.3% rise on motorways. Negotiations dragged on until 19 December, when an agreement was reached: motorway toll increases would remain unchanged, main-road tolls would rise in two phases at a reduced rate of 35%, and lorries would be banned from certain main roads altogether.

Transport advocate Tibor Orosz warns this could push the price of bread to 2,000 forints. He notes that the agreement was largely concluded with Zoltán Barna, head of the Hungarian Road Hauliers Association and chief executive of haulage giant Waberer’s. The company’s owner is István Tiborcz, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as reported by Telex.