Is resistance against Russia futile in case of an invasion? – Here is the answer of PM Orbán, UPDATED

Hungary always defends itself and the “heroes of 1956 are sacrosanct”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday, calling it a “mistake” on the part of his political director to have made “ambiguous comments” about defence against Russia and 1956.

“Hungary always defends itself as it has in the past, as it does today and will do so in the future with every possible means, just as the constitution mandates all Hungarians to do,” Orbán told public broadcaster Kossuth Rádió when asked whether Balázs Orbán‘s recent remarks implied that Hungary would not defend itself.

The prime minister said the disagreement between the “pro-war and pro-peace sides” would continue to intensify in Hungary and the rest of the world until November’s US presidential election. Most recently, he added, the revolution of 1956 had been brought into the debate, warning that it was crucial to “be very clear when discussing such sensitive issues” and leave no doubt about where one stands.

Prime ministerial interview in North Macedonia. Photo: MTI

“This time my political director spoke ambiguously, which in this context was a mistake since our community is grounded in the revolution of 1956; that is what it grew out of and wouldn’t be our political community if it weren’t for the heroes of 1956,” Orbán said, adding that he had no doubts about the political views of any senior Fidesz politician. He said he was certain that Balázs Orbán would fight for the country “in the event of such a turn of history”.

Orbán said “sacrosanct and unassailable events and heroes like 1956 and its heroes” should be kept out of the debate on war and peace. “I don’t want the Ukraine-Russia war to cast a shadow on the memory of the freedom fighters of 1956 to whom we owe our gratitude and whose honour we should keep alive,” the prime minister said.

Political director’s ‘ambiguous’ remarks don’t change the ‘excellent job’ he has done

The “ambiguous” remarks made by the prime minister’s political director in connection with defending the country against Russia and the 1956 revolution “don’t change the excellent job he’s done in Hungarian public life over the past decade”, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office said on Friday.

Gergely Gulyás said on Facebook that Balázs Orbán had spoken “ambiguously” in his interview with political weekly Mandiner, and “at times like this, in politics there will always be those who misunderstand what was said.”

Gulyás noted that the political director clarified later his comments and that he believed that the heroes of 1956 “are among the most glorious in Hungarian history”.

Gulyás said those who were now “smearing” the prime minister’s political director were “the champions of lies”.

Gulyás said that opposition Tisza leader Peter Magyar’s “secret recording of a conversation with his wife is reminiscent of the worst communist practice”, insisting that “not a day goes by that he doesn’t say something that is factually untrue.”

Read also:

• Official of Orbán cabinet says they would NOT have defended Hungary in case of a Russian invasion