Orbán: ‘Soros Network’ behind migration in the Balkans

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in a radio interview accused the “Soros Network” of organising migration across the Balkans.

In his regular Friday morning interview to public broadcaster Kossuth Radio, the prime minister said Soros-funded organisations were involved in “migration consulting”.

Referring to US financier George Soros, Orbán branded Soros as “the world’s number-one oligarch” who was “financing NGOs, groups, activists” in “mafia-like networks”.

He said that whereas “Soros-funded politicians for rent” were in favour of migration, Hungary was opposed to it.

Commenting on an attempt by migrants on Tuesday to break through the border, Orbán noted that the people who actually managed to cross to Hungary were arrested and found guilty in court, and they will be expelled from the country. The recordings clearly show that there were no women and children among the migrants, only “military-age men in good physical condition”, he said.

So it is clear they “weren’t blown here by the wind.”

Border protection and the fight against migration are the most important current European and Hungarian issues, he said, adding that he was making efforts to convince decision-makers that the European Union budget allocation for border protection should be given directly to member states rather than to the common EU border protection body. So far the EU “has given less than a pittance” to Hungary for border protection despite the fact that the work done also benefits the Austrians and the Germans, he added.

Commenting on preventive measures against the coronavirus, he said that an “operative board” — a coordination committee headed by Interior Minister Sandor Pinter — had been set up. Steps must be coordinated between, for instance, the immigration police and the border guard, he said. The board includes professionals and the minister in charge of health care and the medical chief officer. “There isn’t a problem right now but the issue must be taken seriously,” Orbán said, adding that he had asked Justice Minister Judit Varga to make sure regulations covering the spread of fake news that could cause panic are effective.