Will cash users face penalties on public transport starting in summer 2024? No, that's not true: The Hungarian government aims to introduce a cash-free system on board vehicles, but the details are not clear yet.
The claim appeared in a video (archived here) published on TikTok on January 18, 2024, under the title, translated from Hungarian into English by Lead Stories staff:
Using cash on public transport will also be punished starting in summer 2024.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Feb 05 16:20:58 2024 CET)
In a government decree (archived here) dated December 13, 2023, the Minister for Construction and Transport has been tasked with formulating the legal framework for on-board cash-free ticket payments on local public transport vehicles. The government aims to implement the new system by September 30, 2024.
The decree makes no mention of any penalties or fees for individuals who prefer to use cash. Its goal is to establish a cash-free system on board, with the anticipation that passengers will likely still be able to purchase tickets in cash at stations. The deadline for amendment proposals is March 1, 2024, and the details have yet to be released.
The image in the TikTok video features the Mi Hazank logo, representing a Hungarian far-right party that is actively advocating for the recognition of cash usage as a constitutional right (archived here).
