Orbán, who fought with Brussels for years, is now pro-peace – interview
Hungary’s nationally minded political camp has made it clear that “we stand on the side of peace and Hungary cannot be dragged into the war,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told commercial news channel HírTV on Monday.
“The nationally minded camp in Hungary says that this is a Russian-Ukrainian war, and we’re Hungarians; we help those in need but at the same time we won’t take a single step that would get Hungary into trouble,” the prime minister said of the war. “We can’t help anyone by ruining ourselves.”
“If we get drawn into the war, which isn’t our war, we’ll have nothing to gain but everything to lose,” Orbán said.
Hungary’s nationally minded political camp says that “we’ll stay on the side of peace, we won’t ship weapons, we won’t send soldiers and we won’t allow the transit of weapons across Hungary’s territory into Ukraine,” he added.
Orbán said the left wing had made it clear that they did not see the war as a conflict between two peoples but rather as one that “they, too, are directly connected to; and they think the right thing to do would be to have Hungary get involved in the conflict”. Meanwhile, NATO says that all of its member states are independent and the national governments will decide what they should do, he said.
“The question is whether there is anything we will do together, and the answer to that is that there will be no such operation; NATO won’t send troops or weapons.”
Orbán said this stance did not mean that there were no disagreements within NATO, and that there were some in the alliance “who, going against the Hungarian position, want to push NATO into this conflict”. The Hungarian left wing, he added, wanted to please the countries that favoured pushing NATO into the conflict.
The situation is difficult and risky, the prime minister said. Orbán said the risk of war was at stake in this Sunday’s general election, arguing that if the opposition won, there would be another NATO country that wanted to “push NATO and Hungary into this conflict”.
“So if we want peace, that can only be represented by the nationally minded side both in Hungary and within NATO,” he said.
Orbán said Hungary also had a responsibility to help those in need. Hungary, he said, was “punching above its weight” when it came to helping, arguing that the country was taking in more refugees and caring for more people relative to its population than any other European country. “So we’re not a lousy but rather a great nation which is also doing the right thing morally,” Orbán said.
“But we can’t help the Ukrainians by getting Hungary blown apart,” he said. “Turning off the Russian oil and gas taps and bringing the Hungarian economy to a halt isn’t help.”
Hungary’s interest lies in peace, as do that of the Ukrainians and the Russians, Orbán said. The country must also preserve its security not just from a military perspective but also an economic one, he added. If Hungary’s energy supplies were cut off the economy would grind to a halt, Orbán said, adding that this was why he was fighting the European position that favours extending the sanctions on Russia to oil and gas supplies.
Orbán said plans were for nuclear power and solar energy to cover more than 90 percent of energy demand over the next decade. Some sources of energy would still come from Russia, he added, but the aim was not to depend on it or to be vulnerable to it.
Referring to grain production from Russia and Ukraine, he noted “a serious chance” that supplies from both countries would “drop out” and hunger would result.
Hungary, he suggested, was vulnerable to grain price rises if Hungarian produce were snapped up by foreigners at inflated prices, “and then we’d have to import at even higher prices”.
A long war may impact the European economy and certain food produce may not be available in sufficient quantities, he added.
The prime minister said the stakes were high. “At times like this calmness is required; calm and experience, and rising above daily political disputes.”
“This election is not a forgone conclusion; it’s an open fight,”
he said, referring to the April 3 election. He urged voters to go to the polls and make sure that like-minded people did the same.
“If we all turn out, we’ll get the result [we want] — but only if we do.”
In connection with the referendum on child protection held in parallel with the general election, Orbán mentioned “the gender insanity” in the West. He said Hungarians “know trouble is brewing”, and that is why turnout for the referendum “will be high”, he said.
The prime minister said that support for notions associated with the traditional family and lifestyles was “very high”, and on this issue the normal left-right divide was basically irrelevant, because the question was “whether we want to continue to arrange our lives normally or get into an adventure via our children on a matter that until now had been a point of certainty.”
“The people have a definite opinion,” he said, adding that the only question was whether they would turn out and give their opinion with regard to the four referendum questions.
please make a donation here
Hot news
Top Hungary news: Olympics in Budapest, Russian gas, Hungary’s debt, new Müller store, Prince William as landlord, expensive panel flats – 18 November, 2024
Hungarian FM: Suspending EU-Israel political dialogue ‘would be mistake’
European Commission demands a further EUR 60 million from Hungary
Hungary’s MÁV group to undergo major restructuring
Russian gas supplies to Austria disrupted: Will this threaten Hungary’s gas supply?
Hungarian opposition Jobbik urges health-care finance reform
4 Comments
How that for a neutral, objective referendum question to understand how the People feel: “do we want to continue to arrange our lives normally or get into an adventure via our children on a matter that until now had been a point of certainty?”
No clue how you justify any course of action, based on questions of this type
He knows that village folk will all tick no in the so called ‘referendum’. Making people afraid, playing on their ignorance. I live in a village, of course they’ll tick no, the questions are designed that way. I’m going to tick yes just for the hell of it. If some parents are too embarrassed to talk about periods to their daughters, how’re they going to explain anything of a sexual nature.
As for the left wanting to send soldiers to Ukraine. He knows that’s rubbish, we’re a member of NATO. No troops from any NATO country has set foot on Ukrainian soil. Hungary can’t “push NATO” into anything. Orban’s a liar all the way, or getting desperate…..
Interesting how some countries are starting to distance themselves from him…….
The “Wedged” position that Hungary – through the Leadership of Victor Orban/Fidesz Party – with Russia & China is HORRENDOUS.
The war commenced on the Ukraine by Russia – has exposed in greater deep & detail – the RELATIONSHIP that Hungary – through this present Government, have establised with Russia & China.
This Russian war on the Ukraine – NATO, European Union, Great Britain and the United States of America – knew of Hungarys relationships but this Russian War against the Ukraine, has given ALL the BIGGER Picture – of the Leadership style – political views – and political philosophies that are Victor Orban.
It was KNOWN – pre the Russian war on the Ukraine – what side Hungary – was on.
It was KNOWN – the on-going deepening of relationships establised as a main agenda item by Victor Orban ? Fidesz Party.
The “isolation” of Hungary – being disregarded from major matters in NATO and the European Union, through the ATTITUDE – in the past exhibited by Victor Orban – his “sitting on the Fence” – trying to have a piece of the both sides of the cake – doing the Hokey Pokey – is HITTING – Victor Orban & Fidesz Party with extreme force – that is appearing they culd be BLOWN away – at the up-coming National Elections.
The Economy of Hungary – is a Shambles.
Inflation, Interest Rates – all at record Highs.
Cost of Living – at record Highs.
De-valuation of the Forint – continues.
Property Market – in “Free ” fall – which nay result in a Carnage.
These are just a few number of PROBLEMS – that are growing PROBLEMS, that Victor Orban – has on his plate – and that HUNGARY – needs to take into serious consideration – when casting there Vote on the April 3rd.
Nothing is GETTING Cheaper in Hungary and the FUEL”cap” – when the Government within 7 – 10 days – “Pull” the strings on this cap – it will be a “steep” – increase – that will bite hard into the pockets of motor vehicle USERS.
Are we seeing at present the Government of Hungary – Rattled or desperate – for FRIENDS – through being WEDGED – and that all people are receiving clear FACTS – that Victor Orban – Hungary, – is a “Puppet on a Sting” – to Russia & China ???
DANGEROUS for Hungary – and the loss of Frienships will have MASS effects on Hungary – in the immediate, short term and into the Future of Hungary.
@Concerned – Troubled
Are you capping your words because you cant see them through your cracked crystal ball?
First of all, Russia is a small global economy that will be Chinas bitch after getting itself completely cut-off Globally. Viktor was wise to take advantage of the close cheap and reliable supplier as Russia only has its resources to sell anyone, no tech, not much of anything else unless your a Borsht lover. That being said, the world just came out of a 2 year pandemic which drained government financial accounts and now this stupid Putin war. You cant get money and change infrastructure overnight to supply energy from other sources. That includes the global supply of Uranium the west(USA, Long list, Hungary) is also buying from Russia. Notice how Uranium is not mentioned, buy Oil and Gas are? We can get into Global Titanium supplier (55%) #1 Russia and how aircraft manufacturers need it to build engines, aircraft, landing gear, etc.
The point is, it doesn’t matter who you vote for, Taxes, Interest, Costs will climb rapidly regardless. Food and materials will be in short supply, leading to more starvation in poor countries, and moderate countries, and market recessions and depressions will come.
As for Hungary’s relationship with Russia, i bet you didnt know about the rest of the worlds relationship with Russia for the same things?! In fact Belgium, already stated that it will NOT boycott Russian Diamonds, but continue to buy them. How’s that for a Brussels one two! Everyone complaining is a plain hypocrite and dont worry, by design, the New World Order will change everything and soon. You will not be complaining after that takes over, you wont be able to.