Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has vowed to protect the country’s borders for as long as he leads the government, while outlining his position on migration during a speech in Berlin marking the 37th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Speaking in the German capital, Magyar recalled the events of 1989 and quoted former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who said that Hungarians had knocked out the first brick of the Berlin Wall. However, his address also focused on present-day European politics, with criticism of the continent’s political leadership and a call for a more responsive approach to citizens’ concerns.
Magyar criticises Europe’s political elite
Magyar argued that Europe’s political establishment had spent too long producing reports and dealing with bureaucracy instead of making necessary decisions, leaving ordinary people feeling abandoned.
He accused European politicians of speaking to citizens from an “ivory tower”, while warning that political extremes built on fear and hatred were gaining strength, partly with outside assistance. He said politicians should instead listen to people whose voices had previously gone unheard.
The Hungarian prime minister also stressed that migration could not be avoided in discussions about Europe. He argued that the debate over illegal migration had brought about a fundamental change in European thinking over the past decade, with positions Hungary had consistently represented now reflected in those of most EU member states.
“From the beginning, Hungary has maintained that member states have the right to determine their own migration policies. However, this must not mean that some countries pass the negative consequences of their decisions on to others,” he said.
“As long as I lead the Hungarian government, we will protect the external borders of my country and Europe,” Magyar added.
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Focus on everyday issues and European sovereignty
Beyond migration, Magyar spoke about his experiences travelling around Hungary and meeting people in their everyday lives. He said politics should focus less on ideology and more on solving practical problems.
Transport, healthcare and education might not be the most exciting subjects, he acknowledged, but they are among the issues that matter most to citizens. He said he and his Tisza Party government were committed to addressing them.
Magyar also warned against the influence of lobbying interests and foreign states, arguing that Europe cannot be sovereign if it is unable to protect or provide for itself. He said European unity should be based on respect for national characteristics and listening to ordinary citizens.
Hungarian ministers accompany Magyar to Berlin
The prime minister travelled to Germany accompanied by Foreign Minister Anita Orbán, Economy and Energy Minister István Kapitány, Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi and Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai. Magyar also met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday.
The Hungarian prime minister last visited Berlin in June, when he and Merz discussed the war in Ukraine and European economic cooperation. The visit follows a joint government meeting in the Czech Republic last week with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. Austrian officials also held a joint meeting with the Hungarian government in May.
