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PM Orbán will veto the EU’s next budget if Brussels keeps funds frozen and says Ukraine is weak, Russia’s strong
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“We are the new opposition to Brussels,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview to public radio on Friday.
Orbán said that alongside the formation of the new European Commission, the European People’s Party, liberals and socialists had entered into a political deal, with “direct consequences for Hungary” as they were “pro-migration, pro-gender and pro-war” and promoted an economic policy that was “bad for Hungary”.
“So we have to work as the opposition to Brussels,” he said. “We must put up resistance until we manage to take over the majority.”
The prime minister said the commission would “kill the European economy” due to a policy that led to high energy prices.
The Patriots for Europe family “must build a new majority in Brussels”, he said, adding that this was feasible “within the foreseeable future”. The Patriots and the Conservatives groups together, he added, were the second biggest alliance in the European Parliament and would “doom the Brussels government to failure”.
Orbán said Brussels wanted a government in Hungary that enforced its policies. “They want to redirect us, but this runs contrary to the interests of Hungary and we won’t side with them.”
“If this cannot be done using nice words, it will be done through a political fight,” he added.
Orbán said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Manfred Weber, the head of the European People’s Party, considered Hungary “not as a partner, not even an adversary but an enemy… They have made their own decision: they want a change of government in Hungary.” He insisted that the Tisza Party was their preferred government in Budapest.
Hungary demands the frozen EU funds
Meanwhile, the prime minister said Hungary had more than 12 billion euros of European Union funding on its account, and it must receive the rest of those resources in 2027-2028 or the country would refuse to back the EU budget.
Orbán noted that over 12 billion euros of EU funding was on Hungary’s account and that could flow into the economy. That funding will not be drawn down, rather companies will undertake investments and developments and submit their invoices to the government which will send them to Brussels to get 12.5 billion of pay-outs, he said. That sum would meet the needs of the Hungarian economy until the end of 2026, he added.
He said Hungary, too, was entitled to additional funding but that would be an issue for the period after 2026. If funding not received in 2025-2026 was not transferred in 2027-2028, Hungary “will not vote for” the next seven-year EU budget, approval of which requires a unanimous decision, he added.
Orbán dismissed concerns over the arrival of Hungary’s EU funding, saying that while there were “inconveniences”, the funding would “doubtless” flow into the economy.
Hungary’s budget covers teachers’ wage rise
Orbán said transfers from Brussels would cover 12-15 percent of an increase in teachers’ salaries, but the remaining 85 percent would come from the central budget. He noted that two of Europe’s biggest economies were without a government or, more accurately, with a caretaker government. He added that it wasn’t worth making long-term agreements with a caretaker government. He said the situation was a little better in France, where the president was elected by the people, but the situtation was more difficult in Germany.
Orbán said the European economy was now in a “state of disintegration”, in part because of “bad economic policies” adopted by Brussels over the years that had raised energy prices and hurt the competitiveness of Hungarian businesses. He said families enjoyed protection against high household energy bills, “but we can no longer protect our businesses” as the high energy prices caused by Brussels “undermine the competitiveness of Hungarian businesses”.
The question, he said, was how to get Brussels to change that policy and make energy prices affordable again. He added that the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness Deal signed at an EU summit in the Hungarian capital would require Brussels to take concrete measures to that end in the coming half year.
Peace mission in Vatican
Concerning his recent visit to the Vatican, Orbán said the question of war and peace was “at the heart of Vatican diplomacy and the Holy Father’s thinking about the world, so I went to the best place for confirmation”.
After his audience with Pope Francis, the prime minister met senior Vatican officials and discussed international affairs and bilateral relations. Hungary “received the reassuring confirmation” that the country can continue to count on the Catholic Church and the Holy See, he said.
This, he added, not only pertained to “the matter of peace but to all matters” for which the Catholic Church could provide assistance such as care for the elderly, the sick, and the education of young people. Orbán called longstanding Vatican-Hungary cooperation “excellent”, adding that Hungary could continue to count on the Catholic Church.
Concerning the war in Ukraine, Orbán said the US was “a key player” in the conflict, adding that “without the US the war would long be over”. “Without American participation Ukraine could not put up any resistance,” he said. The US, Hungary’s ally, was “indispensable” for Europe’s security, and “if they packed up an went home, an real possibility, a security vacuum would ensue in Europe in that very moment.”
The security situation in Europe must be resolved once a ceasefire is concluded to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end, Orbán said.
Russia very strong, Ukraine very weak
Orbán said Russia had changed, becoming “very strong” on the back of the war, while Ukraine had become “very weak”. Europe’s military, too, was “extremely weak”, he said. “We don’t even have the weapons, ammunition or money” to handle a war with Russia, he added. “All signs of European weakness have appeared.”
So Europe must consider regrouping and finding a solution “that guarantees our security” while situating itself in relation to the US, the prime minister said, adding this would entail a “complex and long series” of talks and actions over the next 1-2 years.
Orbán said “currently there are two US presidents… One is pro-war, supported by George Soros’s international power groups” while “Donald Trump will attempt to make peace”.
The prime minister said it was “too much” that the US secretary of state “on the far side of the Atlantic, in security and comfort” should suggest that “it is time Kyiv should lower the conscription age from 25 to 18 years … so that even more young Ukrainians die.” “Impertinently throwing that into the world’s face shows that it is high time for change in America,” Orbán said, adding that Ukraine was “stuck”. He said they had chosen “the wrong strategy when they failed to achieve a ceasefire with Russia around April 2022.”
Hmmmm. Let’s see what’s new. Not much in the PM’s rant is new. But oh,,,,,,”Hungary Demands the Frozen EU Funds”.
Orbán noted that over 12 billion euros of EU funding was on Hungary’s account and that could flow into the economy. That funding will not be drawn down, rather companies will undertake investments and developments and submit their invoices to the government which will send them to Brussels to get 12.5 billion of pay-outs, he said. That sum would meet the needs of the Hungarian economy until the end of 2026, he added.
Well, that IS interesting. I wonder which companies he is talking about that will undertake investments and developments……and I wonder which segment of the Hungarian economy’s needs will be met. I guess we’ll find out when we get the money.
When you find yourself in a hole stop digging. As far as wanting a change of government in Hungary even a majority of Hungarians want that. Orban looks certain to make sure Hungary doesn’t get any funds from the EU. Also certain is that Hungary is a Russian satellite under Fidesz.
Exactly what needs to happen. If Hungary is going to be punished for defending its borders and refusing to let itself be destroyed by third-world invaders, then it needs to fight back: first from within, next by leaving altogether. The E.U. “dream” has turned into a nightmare and the nations of Europe will wake up from it to a new dawn sooner or later.
Michael Steiner.
Its “Old” and wrinkled, like you, possible SHIVERED up, needing a blue tabletta to inspire a bit of life, so please, get your hand off that gear STICK.
Hungary, is destroyed for decades by the Orban “gangster” mob.
This talk you pursue, painting the picture of Hungary as an independent, stand alone, get out of the EU, is just crazed talk.
Hungary in the “mire” it is end, delivered there by Orban – the growing pressurization on him, the entire country, his “brawling” matches, just deepening the name of Hungary into the gutter, that already, as we know, our name, the proud and historic name Hungary, has been HUMILIATED by the Orban – Fidesz Government.
Hungary, we just keep backing the “wrong horses” – and the PUNTER or gambler, using our hard earned taxes, keeps just ” pisseth against a wall” – an ancient Israel idiomatic expression.
Let hope the winds through his BAD choice – turns and blows it ALL back over HIM – for the good of any HOPE for the future of Hungary.
Russia is “Strong!” – so this explains why Mr. Assad is now another Syrian refugee in a foreign country.
Also, the Russian Navy has apparently abandoned its Tartus base (learning from its Black Sea adventures?):
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-assad-putin-tartus-1995406 or if you are visually inclined https://youtu.be/FCnl9Hsnkew?si=3WNBS1t1RqJe08wp
And – uh. Russia is losing pretty 50 men per square kilometre gained in Ukraine (as our Politicians like to say “we must stop the senseless deaths” – as Mr. Putin sends his troops arm-in arm in a line over open terrain), they appear to be also running out of hardware – even the classics. If you are ready for an hour of data, facts and analysis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzR8BacYS6U