PM Orbán at Tusványos: We would secure landslide victory in a snap election

According to internal polls, the ruling parties would win a landslide victory and secure an overwhelming majority if parliamentary elections were held this Sunday. They would win mandates in 80 out of Hungary’s 106 single-member constituencies, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in his speech on the final day of the 34th Bálványos Summer Free University and Student Camp (Tusványos) on Saturday morning.

He added that he would not be satisfied with that result, as their candidates had won in 87 districts in 2022. “Why should we settle for less in 2026? We won’t settle for less,” he said in the speech.

Orbán stated that this was intended as a closing speech for the current cycle, but he plans to return a year from now with an opening speech for the next one. He also emphasised the impact of elections on the lives of ethnic Hungarians living beyond Hungary’s borders, saying there is always a choice between two destinies.

He remarked that the creed of Hungary’s opposition, “directed from Brussels,” was already expressed when someone referred to Oradea (Nagyvárad) as “Romanian land” (Oradea used to be part of the Kingdom of Hungary, but it was attached to Romania after WWI – ed.).

“We represent the opposite of that. We say that while a state has borders, a nation does not. That’s why you can always count on a national government. We stand up for Hungarians, we will fight for you too, and I ask you to stand up for your own future,” Orbán said.

Orbán: There’s a chance for cooperation with Romania’s new prime minister

There is a chance for cooperation if Romania can overcome the serious economic difficulties it currently faces, Orbán said, referring to his recent meeting with his Romanian counterpart, Ilie Bolojan.

The Hungarian prime minister noted that Bolojan is his 24th Romanian counterpart, and commented that the stability of the Romanian political system stems more from its presidents than its prime ministers.

Orbán emphasised that the Romanian PM is a “heavyweight politician” and a native of Oradea (Nagyvárad), meaning “he operates within the same code system and cultural pattern as we do.” At the same time, Bolojan is a Romanian patriot who will fight for his country’s national interests, while also aspiring to achieve joint Romanian-Hungarian successes—something he is interested in and willing to work toward.

Orbán: Thanks to Trump’s victory, ‘we have managed to avoid a world war’

Thanks to Donald Trump’s victory, “we have managed to avoid a world war for now”, Orbán said.

He said a debate in Hungary was taking place regarding how the US president had benefitted Hungary, adding that “we have managed to avoid a world war for now, there is no longer political discrimination against Hungary, economic sanctions against the Paks power plant have been removed … and American investments in Hungary are underway.”

He referred to four “outstanding” US research and development investments made recently, “and three more are expected in September”.

Orbán: Tisza, DK won’t form govt because ‘we want pro-peace, national’ govt in Hungary

Orbán said that voters would not allow the opposition Tisza and DK parties to take power in Hungary and the European Union would therefore fail to instal a “pro-Ukrainian and pro-Brussels” government. “We want Hungary to have a pro-peace and national government,” he declared.

Orbán said the EU had decided to “go to war” and “even if the United States withdraws”, the bloc would continue supporting Ukraine. “Hungary has chosen not to go to war,” the prime minister declared.

He insisted the EU wanted a “pro-Ukrainian and pro-Brussels” government in Hungary that would join it in waging war. He added that “we will not allow either Tisza or DK to form a government, because we want Hungary to have a pro-peace and national government.”

He said Hungary had received half of its EU funding, or 12 billion euros, “and the other half will arrive as no new seven-year European budget will be approved until Hungary receives its missing money”, noting EU budget approval requires unanimity.

Orbán vowed that Hungary would receive its remaining EU funding and would “not make any concessions” regarding sovereignty.

He said that whereas the opposition Tisza and DK parties would no doubt succeed in securing the outstanding EU funds, this would be at the price of supporting Ukraine and its bid to become an EU member, implementing the migration pact, repealing the child protection law, repealing taxes on multinationals and abolishing the reduction in utility bills.

All this would be “in exchange for our sovereignty”, he said. “I propose we bring [the EU money] home instead,” the prime minister added.

Orbán: ‘Hungary will be great and wealthy’

The core of Hungary’s national strategy is that the country will be “great and wealthy”, Orbán said. He said the basic premise of Hungary’s “grand strategy” was that “when Hungary’s defeat was cemented in 1920, the country’s enemies decided that Hungary will be small and poor.”

“We are in politics … to change this destiny, which means Hungary will be great and wealthy; this is the core of the Hungarian national strategy,” the prime minister said.

Orbán said Hungary’s grand strategy also had to answer the question of “where people will come from”. “We’re not preparing to import any people,” he said, emphasising that Hungary needed to be a “family-friendly nation”.

Hungary, he said had the most generous family support scheme in the European Union. He noted that the new Home Start subsidies credit scheme was giving young people a chance to be a part of the nation, not just culturally but also as homeowners, which he said would ultimately strengthen families, young people and the nation overall.

Orbán: ‘Something clearly amiss in Hungarian showbusiness’

Something is “clearly amiss in Hungarian showbusiness”, Orbán said, referring to the government’s decision to ban Irish band Kneecap from Hungary over their recurring anti-Semitic hate speech.

Speaking about the “anti-Semitic rock band that praises terrorism”, Orbán said it was important that Hungary was “an island of freedom and peace in a world that has turned upside-down”, and that no one could be assaulted either physically or verbally for their heritage or faith. (Note: Kneecap, the musical group Orbán was referring to, is not “anti-Semitic” but stands up for the Palestinian people regularly. It is important not to confuse the two.)