“Brussels is readying for war,” PM Orbán declared

“Brussels is readying for war,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared in an interview to public radio on Friday, saying that it was doing so even though there was no threat of war. “Hungary remains on the side of peace,” he said, referring to the European Commission’s proposal to Europeans to stock emergency rations for 72 hours.

Transatlantic rift between Brussels and Washington

Orbán said that whereas it may appear comical that Brussels was sending a message to all European families to keep enough food stocked for 72 hours, in fact “this must be taken seriously”. “If you go deeper, it’s quite horrifying to see what’s on these people’s minds; are they preparing for something?” The prime minister said it did not appear that Europe was currently threatened by war, adding that it was unrealistic that “anyone would attack a NATO member state”.

Those readying for war usually did so to launch “some kind of act of war”, Orbán said, adding that political preparations for a deeper involvement in war were under way in light of the commission’s proposal. Hungarian families, he said, need not do anything out of the ordinary. “There’s no threat of war; Hungary won’t go to war with anyone,” he said. “We are staying on the side of peace, and if Europe launches a war, we definitely won’t go to war.”

Orbán spoke of a “transatlantic rift”, as the US worked to achieve a ceasefire and peace, while European countries were pursuing war. US peace efforts should be fully supported, he said, dismissing a “war strategy in opposition to America” on the part of European countries. Orbán said Hungary and Slovaks were opposed to such a strategy, and Italians seemed “reluctant” to follow one.

Referring to the Minsk agreement, he said the French-German peace guarantee had proved insufficient as Europe did not have the ability or strength to enforce it. The conclusion to be drawn, however, was not to wage more war but to find “someone who can enforce” peace. “Let’s face it, the Americans must be involved,” he said.

• HERE is how Orbán’s top minister, János Lázár slammed government-close entrepreneurs in Kisvárda. Is that the start of a vendetta?

Opposition parties only provoking

Meanwhile, referring to several demonstrations held this week to protest against the assembly law amendment for child protection as well as a demonstration held in front of the MTVA building where his interview took place, Orbán said the opposition parties “are competing with each other in provocation antics”.

Orbán said he believed there was a “competition of provocation” among the opposition parties, adding that “it is not easy for them, especially if the government is doing a lot of things”. In such a case, he said, the opposition had the options of being constructive or “dismissing it all and turning to provocation”.

The 25 March bridge closure:

“There’s this absurd situation where the protesters are even blocking bridges while claiming that democracy in Hungary is over, and that they’re not allowed to assemble anymore, even as they’re in the middle of assembling,” he said. HERE is our article about how some protesters occupied Budapest’s Liberty Bridge.

Orbán said the protesters’ claims were contradicted by what was actually happening, adding that the demonstrations were actually about “the political race”. Referring to next year’s general election, Orbán said the opposition playing field was changing, and the parties were all competing with each other as to “who can be more anti-government and provocative”.

Blocking bridges not normal

He said blocking bridges was “not normal”, adding that those who were not protesting had a right “to live their life in a normal way”. Orbán said he comprehended someone objecting to a certain “Pride type” of law, as this was a topic that “liberals always whine about”. At the same time, he said, consideration should be shown to others.

• 22 ambassadors accredited in Budapest protested against the anti-Pride law in a joint statement.

“Under the current legal regulations, blocking bridges is not possible,” he said. Freedom of expression, he added, also meant that the lives of others should not be impeded. Asked whether this would justify the government taking legislative action, Orbán said they were considering it.