Subscribe to our social channels to get the latest news about Hungary!
BREAKING NEWS – Orbán: Hungarian government declares state of emergency
Change language:
The government is declaring a state of emergency in view of the armed conflict in a neighbouring country, starting from midnight on Tuesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a video posted on Facebook.
Speaking hours after parliament approved an amendment to the Fundamental Law determining armed conflict, war, or humanitarian disaster in a neighbouring country as causes of such a measure, Orbán said the war in Ukraine presented a constant danger to “Hungary, our physical safety, the energy supplies and financial safety of families and the economy.”
- Read more here: Hungarian parliament approves 10th amendment to constitution
“The government sworn in today has started working immediately. In view of the war in a neighbouring country, we did not waste a single second. A war nobody can see the end of yet,”
he said.
“We have seen that the war and sanctions from Brussels have brought about a great economic upheaval and drastic price rises. The world is on the brink of an economic crisis. Hungary has to stay out of this war and has to protect the financial security of families,” he said.
To do so, the government needs to be able to make decisions and act swiftly. The state of emergency, similarly to that introduced during the pandemic, will make it possible for the government to react quickly and to use “all methods at its disposal” to protect Hungary and Hungarians, he said.
“I’m going to brief you on our first decisions tomorrow,” Orban said.
Orbán: Responsible, ‘feisty’ government needed
Hungary needs a feisty, responsible government that unites the country while showing the necessary strength, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in parliament on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of the oath-taking ceremony of his fifth government, Orban said the new cabinet’s tasks are outlined by “dangers and especially the war”.
The government will have to preserve and strengthen the physical, material and cultural security of Hungary and the Carpathian Basin, support Hungarian families, boost Hungarian companies and keep the economy on a path of growth, Orbán said.
Members of the new government were troubled with various problems, he added.
No government since 1990 has received as “great and united” a mandate as the fourth consecutive Orbán government, the prime minister said. Its members will have to “justify this trust, which was partly earned, partly given in advance,” he said.
“That will be especially taxing, as we barely left the coronavirus pandemic behind, we have a war in our neighbourhood, and Brussels has got its wires crossed, so we cannot expect help from there,” he said.
The strong mandate and the “uncertain future” has increased the government’s responsibility, he added.
The “decade of dangers, uncertainty and wars” of 2020-2030 has so far brought about a “flood of refugees, an unprecedented rise in energy and fuel prices and inflation,” Orbán said. Meanwhile, the largest geopolitical reorganisation of the 21st century is looming, along with a global energy and food crisis, he said. A destabilisation of “vulnerable countries with large populations” may bring other waves of migration and so growing challenges for the “richer part of the world, including Hungary”, he said.
All that would prove a challenge even “for a robust, eminently led European Union”. Instead, the bloc is showing “delays, confounded ideologies and irrational decisions,” he said.
“At such times, Hungary cannot afford irresponsibility, division and weakness,” he said.
Orbán said he has asked Judit Varga to continue to serve at the helm of the justice ministry.
“The justice minister will have the task of enforcing the country’s fundamental law and safeguarding constitutionality, which is why I have assigned the minister the right of veto over any proposals submitted by any other ministry,”
he said. The ministry will also be in charge of the government’s EU relations, an area of responsibility “not envied by any other minister”, Orbán said, praising Varga for being a staunch advocate of Hungary’s national interests in debates with Brussels. He said this was expected from Varga in the future as well.
Introducing Sándor Pintér, who will continue to serve as interior minister, Orbán noted that he and Pinter “have served together over 16 years” during which period the minister had performed every task assigned to him with “exemplary precision”. He restored public safety, radically reduced crime, significantly repressed crimes against property and human life and renewed and rejuvenated the police force to the extent that it has “regained its honor and dignity”, Orbán said. He said that the country’s law enforcement agencies had earned longstanding merits during the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing refugee crisis in Ukraine, adding that Hungary would continue to need these capabilities in the coming period. The prime minister also noted Pinter’s achievements in launching the fostered work scheme which had helped hundreds of thousands of unemployed people find jobs in the primary labour market, as well as in managing the restructuring of the Hungarian municipal system.
Here we go! 🙁 :'(
Help me here. There is a democratic supermajority – however an autocratic “rule by decree” bypass is needed? No democratic guardrails and wiggle room with respect to the rule of law in times of peril (if I listen to our Politicians – Hungary is constantly under threat – so more of this is better for “effective rule”)? Should sound scary to anyone!
Yes, indeed, and so it begins….. 🙁
Any excuse is a good excuse 🙁
The more (power to the PM), the “merrier”. 🙁
“Members of the new government were tapped with those tasks in mind, he added.” I am sure that he did not say ‘tapped’. Something has been seriously lost in translation here because ‘tapped’ makes absolutely no sense in this context.
Dear Lexicon, thanks for calling our attention to it. It’s been corrected.
Direct rule (Dictatorship) by Orbán is bad enough, but giving his enabler/henchwoman Judit Varga, a brown nosing fanatic, the power of veto over other ministries is even more frightening.
Germany, AD 1933….
Hungary – under the Fidesz Party led by it’s current Prime Minister – Victor Orban – a country, that keeps displaying/exhibiting to the European Union, Great Britain, United States of America and the Global World, the state – a country that’s it’s Economic & Financial position is under massive DURESS.
Hungary – under the Leadership of Victor Orban – his agenda continues to dismantle – destablize – manipulate and re-write DEMOCRACY – this “Trip” – that Victor Orban continues on, will DAMAGE – the image & reputation Internationally of Hungary.
Hungary – pre February 2020 and post – our brand name – has been SMASHED – scared & battered, by this present Government under the Leadership of Victor Orban.
Hungary – we continue to see – the Blame Game – being accelerated – by power driven PROPAGANDA – coming out of the Fidesz/Government of Hungary – under the Leadership of Victor Orban.
The quality of Life of Hungarians – living in an Economy, that is under the severness of STRESS and Pressure, that is Hungary, that ALL key components – used to anaylsis – the current, short & long term performance – of a countrys Economy – indicate – a STRONG on-going downward trend for Hungary.
Who are the FRIENDS of Hungary ?
Russia – at War on the Ukrain – an Economy that WILL capitulate in this coming 12 months.
China – the RAVAGE they still are to endure through the growing Novel Virus spreading throughout there country – will have catacylsmic Economic & Financial ramifications & challenges for them.
Dismiss – the FRIENDSHIPS of Russia & China with Hungary – that we know is FACT – and who else are FRIENDS of Hungary ???
The on-going SALVOS – being fired by Victor Orban – on the European Union – just continues to CONFIRM, that Hungary – by the AGENDA – being used / applied by Prime Minister – Victor Orban – does not wish to or see it-self as a Member of the Community of Countrys of Europe.
Hungary – just watch & observe – when the United States of America possible Germany & France – commence opinions – on the Hungarian approach – to solving its Massive Problems – built on and around the Blame Game.
WHO are LEFT – that are FRIENDS of Hungary ?
And first on the agenda will be to silence the opposition parties and the opposition media.
Re open the salt mines and rock mines for political opponents. Or do a deal with Putin so that opposition politicians and people who protest against FIDESZ get sent to the Siberian Gulags.