Hungary to Women: Have 4 Kids, Pay No More Income Tax

Hungary's government is greatly increasing financial aid and subsidies for families with several children, the country's prime minister said Sunday. The measures announced by Viktor Orban during his state-of-the-nation speech are meant to encourage women to have more children and reverse Hungary's population decline, per the AP. The benefits include a lifetime personal income-tax exemption for women who give birth and raise at least four children; a subsidy of $8,825 toward the purchase of a seven-seat vehicle for families with three or more children; and a low-interest loan of $35,300 for women under age 40 who are marrying for the first time.

"In all of Europe there are fewer and fewer children, and the answer of the West to this is migration," said Orban, per the Guardian. "They want as many migrants to enter as there are missing kids, so that the numbers will add up." In Hungary, "instead of just numbers, we want Hungarian children," he said. "Migration for us is surrender.” After his speech, several hundred members and supporters of Hungary's main opposition parties held an anti-Orban rally that started in Buda Castle. (More Hungary stories.)