PM Orbán: Ukraine cannot win, Russia is not a friend, the EU wants war economy, which would destroy “all our plans”

The government aims to achieve an average salary of one million forints (EUR 2,600), a 400,000-forint minimum wage, full payment of the 14th monthly pension, a new agricultural economy, complete energy independence, and the integration of artificial intelligence into Hungarian life in the next term, Orbán said in a campaign rally in Miskolc yesterday.

Hungary’s fate no longer dictated by enemies

The prime minister said: “The grand plan is for Hungarians to be great, wealthy, and as strong as possible.” Responding to a question about whether Fidesz could still have grand plans amid the shadow of war, Orban said he had entered politics to “achieve great things” and “take part in great things”, and he recalled that opposition student circles in the mid-1980s were formed “to accomplish great things: to end Comecon, dissolve the Warsaw Pact, remove the Soviets and communists, restore the old Hungarian spirit, revive national sentiment, and give our priests space to evangelise, because we needed it.”

“I’m in politics to correct the historical injustice that, after the first world war, Hungary’s fate was dictated by its enemies: its borders were redrawn and its international politics were adjusted to keep Hungarians small and poor. I’m here to change that…” But every grand vision depended on “staying out of war”, he warned. “The risk of Hungary being dragged into war is not theoretical; it knocks on our door every day. I must keep that door shut with all my might,” he said according to the Hungarian News Agency. Check out Orbán’s “Brussels, we won’t pay” petition in the issue.

Family-based society, a work-based economy

“Preserving a family-based society, a work-based economy, not giving our money to Ukraine, and avoiding war are prerequisites for discussing grand plans.” Outlining goals for the next term, Orban said the average salary would be raised from 700,000 to one million forints and the minimum wage would be increased from 310,000-320,000 to 400,000 forints. He also confirmed that the first instalment of the 14th monthly pension is being distributed this week, stressing that pensioners were not to be seen as a burden because they had earned their pensions through a lifetime of work.

The prime minister also announced plans to create a new agriculture economy, noting that while the EU capped farm subsidies at 80 percent, Hungary had been unable to fully tap even this amount due to other priorities. “But two years ago, we launched a new agriculture policy, and we are now giving maximum support to farmers and the food industry. In two to three years, the results will be fantastic,” he said, adding that Hungary must thrive on what it does best. Orbán held a fiery international press conference before touching almost all the issues he talked about in Miskolc.

Total energy independence, promises Orbán

Orbán also set total energy independence as a goal, to be achieved through nuclear and solar energy. He noted that Hungary lost all its energy resources after the first and second world wars. The government, he said, would extend the operational life of the Paks 1 nuclear power plant and build Paks 2, which together would cover 60-65 percent of Hungary’s electricity needs, with solar energy filling the gap. He highlighted the need for massive solar storage investments for industrial parks and households.

Regarding oil and gas, he said: “If you don’t have it, buy it.” Hungarian companies, he added, already operated gas fields in Azerbaijan and oil fields elsewhere, ensuring Hungary’s energy security. Regarding artificial intelligence, Orbán said he has tasked Laszlo Palkovics with developing a strategy to integrate AI into Hungarian life “for our benefit”.

While acknowledging both its potential and risks, he said: “Fundamentally, we need natural intelligence; it’s still more important than artificial.” He cautioned that AI must be introduced into education in a way that makes children cleverer rather than more stupid.

Speaking of the party’s ties to the city of Miskolc, Orbán said: “There is a love story here,” adding that he could always count on the citizens of Miskolc. Orbán said he held his first meeting in the city 37 years ago “when Communists were still leading Hungary”. He had come to “agitate” for toppling the communists and sending the Soviet troops home, he said.

Since then, “we have won together many times,” he said: Miskolc had given a deputy leader to the party. He also named several mayors of the city. Fidesz has also stood up for the city. “You can count on me … this love story is not over yet,” he said.

Warmongering opposition

Taking questions from the audience, Orbán said the opposition Tisza and Democratic Coalition (DK) were among “the warmongering parties in Brussels”. He insisted they wanted to send young people to fight in Ukraine; “the leaders of the large European states signed an agreement to send and station soldiers in Ukraine”. “They say they will be on a peacekeeping mission — I’m afraid that they will keep the war going instead.”

Meanwhile, in order for young people to have a chance in Miskolc, it is necessary that their money is not taken to Ukraine, he said. “The money being sent there is missing from the entire European economy. The fruits of Hungarians’ labour must be put to use in Hungary… We are not sending money or soldiers, and then Miskolc will be able to go forward,” he said.

Asked about incentives for young people to stay in the city or to draw them back there, Orban said parents were primarily responsible for their children. “This is true in a political sense too.” He asked parents to educate their children on politics “and make sure they grasp the weight of their decision”. “The most the government can give is education of the children through sports,” he said.

Miskolc a proud industrial centre

Once a “loser of the regime change”, he said Miskolc was today a modern, “proud industrial centre” with cutting-edge technologies put to work. The government has halved unemployment since 2010 and created 43,000 new jobs, as well as tripled wages, he said. “Poverty was reduced to 18 percent from 30 percent, and we also took over 36 billion forint debt of the city, amassed by the previous city leadership.”

“The tempo and the direction is good, but there is a lot of work in front of us. The city is in the process of development, and on the cusp of further progress.” Meanwhile, Orbán said public safety in the city had grown and the quality of schools and vocational training had improved. “There will be safe jobs, and an entire university city should they want to study… Young people have many reasons to stay in the city.” Asked when large investments were expected to arrive in the city, Orbán said the largest investment were by the Chinese company Halms, two new plants Germany’s Bosch has recently opened there, the South Korean LG Magna and Chevron.

“Miskolc citizens will have to decide whether they want mid-size international plants giving jobs to 1,000-5,000 people, or one large investment; both have their advantages, disadvantages and risks.” Orbán called for caution in relation to vehicle production, recalling that around 100,000 auto workers were laid off in western Europe last year. “If the people of Miskolc are thinking about a large factory, they should focus on electrics, because although the transition will be slower than anyone thinks, it will happen,” he added.

New investments, teachers

He said the government stood ready to help bring about the next large investment in Miskolc, noting that a brownfield area is within the city. He said he told the mayor: “We’ll pay for it if they want it,” and then the city could buy it back. Responding to a question from a self-described “satisfied teacher”, Orbán acknowledged that Hungarian public education faced serious intellectual and professional challenges as well as political problems. “The core intellectual-professional question is what to teach children in an era of rapidly changing technology — how much of it is a blessing and how much a curse,” he said, adding that these were difficult questions for educators, not politicians, to resolve.