Hungary’s government aims to make the country a “winner” in the coming decade, just as it was in the past decade, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a weekly interview with public radio on Friday.
Hungary will not join blocks
Speaking to Kossuth Rádió from Ohrid, in North Macedonia, Orbán pointed to the many recent changes such as the pandemic, war, energy crisis, inflation and emerging Asian markets that had affected the global economy and said countries that didn’t adapt would lose to those changes. He added that a new policy of economic neutrality would provide the necessary means and methods for Hungary to deal with those changes.
He warned that two blocs were in the process of being established, one in the West and the other in the East. Hungary will join neither, as it is in the country’s interest to have “strong, deep” economic ties with both.
Orbán, who is on an official visit to North Macedonia, underlined the importance of good economic relations with the Western Balkan country. He said North Macedonia was a “fantastic country but a complicated place”, noting its dispute with Bulgaria, which is blocking the country’s EU accession process over disputes related to ethnic minorities. Hungary, he said, had a duty as the holder of the EU’s rotating presidency to visit countries whose accession process is in a difficult situation, and to help settle the conflicts.
Photo: MTI
The prime minister added, at the same time, that his visit to North Macedonia was also important because the country is located on the most frequented migration route. He noted the immense help Macedonians had provided to Hungary at the peak of the 2015-2016 migration crisis. “Without them, we might not have been able to stop this migration invasion,” he said, noting that Hungary had sent border patrol officers to Macedonia’s southern border.
Orbán pointed to the significance of North Macedonia’s geographical location, saying if Hungary wanted to forward its goods to the seaport, one of the most important routes to the Greek ports ran through North Macedonia.
Economic neutrality first
Meanwhile, Orbán said that in order to establish economic neutrality, Hungary first had to be aware of its own interests. He said Europe was on a “suicide path” with its initiative to form blocs in response to Asia’s rise and its own economic difficulties. He said he was trying to convince his European counterparts that the bloc “shouldn’t start down this path”. “But they’re under a lot of pressure and economic neutrality isn’t that dear to everyone’s heart yet,” he added.
At the heart of economic neutrality, Orbán said, was not allowing others to “force” their intentions onto Hungary “to view the economy through a political lens”, because Hungary must see the trends exclusively in the context of the country’s own interests.
“That means that we will take from the West and take from the East only that which is useful and sensible. Whatever isn’t good, whatever isn’t useful for Hungarians, we won’t take,” he added.
Emergence of blocks unfavourable for economy
Orbán said the emergence of blocs always slowed down economic growth, and nation states and communities benefitted most from “the freest possible trade and economic cooperation”. Economic growth, he said, was lost with the introduction of sanctions and restrictions.
He said that regardless of any blocs that were forming in the global economy, Hungary had to remain a frontrunner in technological development, whether that be in car manufacturing, green energy or the most advanced products related to digitalisation.
The prime minister noted the planned introduction of preferential credit for Hungarians who enter vocational training, home purchase subsidies and schemes aimed at improving the situation of small and medium-sized businesses. He also said the tax-credit available to those raising children must be doubled in 2025.
Orbán said Hungary’s economic growth rate was between 1 percent and 2 percent at present, still putting the country in the forefront in Europe. He added that the goal was to boost Hungary’s growth to between 3-6 percent, in spite of the unfavourable circumstances, with the help of a policy of economic neutrality.
The prime minister said there was a good chance that a new Europe Union Competitiveness Deal could be signed around the end of Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the EU, in November.
Migration: you should speak the truth
Concerning the debate on migration, Orbán said the old Hungarian adage that “you speak the truth and your head gets chopped off” was especially valid in this regard.
In connection with the Italian deputy prime minister’s recent visit to Budapest, Orbán said that Matteo Salvini found himself in an even worse situation. “Because while I am getting hit, smashed, dragged and criticised, a six-year prison sentence is being sought for him for not letting vessels carrying illegal migrants dock in Italy’s ports when he was interior minister”.
Salvini and Orbán. Source: FB/Orbán
“We stand behind Salvini with our full support, he is our hero,” Orbán said, underscoring the need for politicians like Salvini in Europe “who want to stop illegal migration even at the cost of personal risk”.
He added, however, that despite criticisms directed at Hungary and the legal proceedings launched against Salvini, “an increasing number of countries say that ‘those guys were right'”.
“While they criticise us with one hand, with the other they make their own policy similar to ours,” the prime minister said, making reference to Germany “adopting” the policy measure of strict border control.
Keeping fingers crossed for Trump’s victory
As regards the upcoming US presidential election, Orbán said it could decide whether the world took steps towards a war or “stops, turns back and declares a ceasefire and peace as regards not only the Ukraine-Russia war but other conflicts as well”. He called Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump “a president of peace” who, he said, had not launched any wars but took steps for a peaceful settlement of old conflicts.
Photo: FB/Orbán
“It is therefore not by coincidence that the peace-loving, peace-seeking part of the world is keeping its fingers crossed for Trump’s victory,” Orbán said.
“And there are those on the opposite side, who support war and want to see the Democrats win, because they want to continue the war,” Orbán said. He added that in Hungary the pro-war stance was “typically represented by politicians on the left,” while those on the right were pro-peace politicians.
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4 Comments
In suddenly struck me while reading this, does anyone in Hungary give any time to issues like affordable housing, social mobility, alleviating poverty, improving public health and so on? These matters are constantly on the agenda elsewhere but it feels like they’re not even a blip on the radar of a government that is constantly dealing the macro picture and engaging in futurology. Seriously, is there any social housing being constructed in Hungary for rent at sub-market rates by needy people? If so, I’ve never read about any.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hungary – has factually 3.1 million living in poverty and GROWING.
Hungary – is an “Ageing Population”.
Hungary – 15 years plus of greater numbers of deaths of Hungarians than “little ones” being born.
Hungary – highest VAT rate 27% – of the 27 countries of the European Union.
Hungary – the highest interest rates 6.75% of the countries of the European Union.
Hungary – it’s currency – the Forint continues – in on-going FREE Fall.
Hungary – the rate of Social In-Quality = the Rich get Richer and the Poor get POORER – factually with-in the European Union, over the past (5) five years – the LEADER of the Pack.
In answering Londonsteve, the understanding, the prioritization of the majority of the population of Hungary = 9.6% – has a MASS in-ability in comprehending the STRUCTURAL Collapse of there Economy and country.
This lack of understanding does come back to a country, that in it’s core, the percentage of it’s population that are unschooled / un-educated or have received a level of Education that is sub-standard, through lack of Hungarian Governments, no better example than the present Orban – Fidesz Government – that NEVER have invested into Education – this is ALL in there – WHY the people of Hungary – there attitude to WHAT’s really going on in there lives – in there country is SIMPLE not seen nor action(s) taken because through a massive LACK of understanding bought on through “lowness” Education standards and of intellectual ability.
Education opens MIRRORS and Windows of OPPORTUNITIES in LIFE – with GARGANTUAN benefit’s arising, coming from and out off – of a SOLID Education, that it’s GREATEST benefit, is that it TEACHES you to THINK.
Bill Clinton – did rightly say :
“Democracy to the Hungarians is to difficult for them to understand.
Then – 1945-1989 under Communistic Rule then under Orban over 15 years his process in the DISTILLATION of DEMOCRACY in Hungary, that Hungary, just takes the KNOWN road – the “comfort” zone of Communism over DEMOCRACY – which is far to COMPLICATED for there UNDERSTANDING.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
He’s right, as usual. The world is changing at breakneck speed and the shadowy billionaires are creating one unexpected crisis after another. We would be total fools to completely tie ourselves to the decaying West. Membership in N.A.T.O. and even the E.U. still entails benefits but that won’t be the case forever, or even for too much longer, and we need to cultivate relationships with other actors also, whoever they are.
Ethics, morality, and doing “what’s right” don’t come into play in foreign politics/policies. You pursue your own (as in, your nation’s) interests. Everybody does it, despite incessant rhetoric to the contrary. Those who believe America and Europe are prolonging the war in Ukraine because they are such steadfast believers in democracy and primacy of international law and standing up to bullies and whatnot… – I mean… LOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Orban and his Fidesz party have been in power for 14 years and now Hungary is the “loser” with the lowest standard of living in the EU and is rated worst for corruption in the EU. Why should anyone in their right mind believe anything that comes out of that lying man’s mouth when he proclaims that Hungary will be the “winner”? You should have done it already Orban and you didn’t.