No marked change expected in Orbán’s governing style, says Hungarian house speaker

After decades knowing Viktor Orbán, the speaker of parliament, László Kövér, has said in an interview to MTI that he does not expect any major changes in the prime minister’s style of governing.

“The prime minister is an exceptionally capable person who can do no other than to give himself,” he said.

“You can be sure that Viktor Orbán will remain the government’s dominant player; indeed, he may be even more dominant.”

Kövér said some people had been surprised that Orbán had outlined his ideas for the period up to 2030 in his inauguration speech. But this would have surprised only those who do not know him well enough, as well as those who are comfortable with typically European politicians who only plan for the next election campaign, he said. “Europe is full of such politicians and this is what Europe is like.”

He said that hopefully in the current parliamentary cycle, the government would be more consultative and work in greater depth with the party groups that back it. “I look forward to state secretaries, in particular, consulting with politicians who are experts in their own field,” he said.

Kövér also expressed hope that lawmaking would be more thorough and streamlined, and that bills would not be slipped onto the agenda at the last minute, resulting in an adopted law needing correction.

Asked if the opposition and government may be able to build a consensus, he said he had spent the last 28 years imagining that it may be possible. “I dream of this, I’m craving it…”

Even amidst the worst crisis in the last 28 years, the parties had failed to agree on how to handle the migrant issue, he said, adding that not even Jobbik, with its hardline stance, had even tried.

Kövér said it was the duty of all parliamentary forces to back the government on the question of the country’s sovereignty. “Whoever undermines this in external forums is just treacherous…” he said.