The war in Ukraine is dragging on, with no hope of a swift ending, Viktor Orbán said in an interview today morning. Meanwhile, large shareholders of energy companies, “starting with [financier] George Soros, are raking in billions in extra profits” thanks to sanctions-related energy price rises, he said.
Energy prices were driven by politically motivated decisions in Brussels rather than economic reasons, he said. Without the sanctions, energy prices would be the same as they were in April, at the time of the Hungarian general elections and the preceding campaign when the price of gas and oil was expected to stabilise around 100 dollars, “which would have been manageable” without altering the government’s price-cap scheme.
Before the election campaign in Hungary got underway, EU countries agreed “with the leadership of Germany and Hungary” at a summit in Versailles not to extend sanctions to energy, he said. Germany “switched sides” in June, and Brussels imposed sanctions on oil and it has tabled similar measures against gas imports, he said.
Hungary would be in a much worse situation had the government not fought for an exemption from the sanctions against Russia, Orbán said.
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Rather than worrying about energy prices, Hungary would have to contend with energy shortages, he said. At the same time, Hungary will have to adapt to market prices, which are “basically the same throughout Europe”, Orbán said. Hungary has enough natural gas reserves to cover demand for up to five weeks, “even if no gas arrives” in the country, he said.
Referring to the opposition: he said “they play to a different tune”, so it would be a mistake for the government to base its policy on cooperation with them. He said they were financed “from America” and were beholden to those people funding them.
On the subject of the abortion law, the prime minister said the government did not plan to change the law. “I strongly oppose any kind of changes to the abortion law,” he said, adding that he was in favour of “the current system”. Orbán said that currently there were more important issues to be dealt with such as sanctions, the war and skyrocketing energy prices.
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Regarding the European Union’s sanctions policy, Orbán said: “Most bad political decisions can be mended.” Unless the policy is changed, the “sanctions surcharge will be built into the economy and will stay in the long run, becoming a part of our lives in the coming five to ten years,” he said.
The prime minister said the government is protecting families and businesses through energy price caps, and households would pay on average HUF 181,000 (EUR 427.75) more each month without them. Hungary outperforms the rest of Europe when it comes to protecting households from energy price rises, providing support equal to 30 percent of the average salary, while in Germany this amounts to 20 percent, and for Austrians, it comes to 6 percent, he said.
For the time being, Hungary’s budget can afford this, and hopes are high that this support can be maintained until 2023, he said.
He mentioned the government’s caps on the price of firewood and coal as well as a 200 billion support scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises. Also, there is a programme to help out factories and one to protect jobs, he added.
Source: MTI
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6 Comments
Knew it. Orban is prepping us for the ‘national consultation’. Who wants to bet Soros’ name will be mentioned in that. He really takes us all for fools. It’s sad some people believe everything Orban says.
“When the Yoke is Broken,
the Burden is Removed.”
Hungary – “piling” of GROWING evidence, FACTUAL evidence – post just use February 2020 – commencement of the Noval Virus Pandemic – that the Fidesz Political Party under the Leadership and present Prime Minister of Hungary – have destined Hungary to a cataclysmic worsening position.
Economically and Financially – we are in a position of running out of Funds.
The European Union – funding, labelling Hungary under the Orban leadership no longer a Democracy – funding from the EU will not come – to Hungary.
China & Russia – our only (2) two FRIENDS – they are NOT in positions – to Extend Lines of Credit – to Hungary – Funding over and above, what they are owed.
The planed National Consultation – what a SHAM – that will be.
Hungarians – what’s YOUR real problem of ” seeing the forest through the trees.”
Europe are not vision impaired – the European Union certainly are NOT – nor the United Kingdom and the United States of America – and GLOBALLY growing is knowledge – the collapsing of Hungary – they ALL know – what is going on in Hungary.
The Hungarian Government – its decision making direction it is taking, the decision to hold a National Consultation, it is IMPLODING.
What – at this “perilous” time we are facing, what is the REAL point AGAIN of bringing the name Saros – into Political argument and BLAME ?
Blame – for the position we currently are in – worsening daily – that BLAME – is on the Fidesz Political Party under its Leader and present Prime Minister of Hungary – Victor Orban.
The Hungarian Orban led Government – can’t “Veil” – its CREATED problems behind the Russian War on the Ukraine nor sanctioning RIGHTFULLY imposed by the European Union on Russia.
The dictatorial form of governance – Ruling by Decree, what OTHER factual evidence does Hungary need to know – it needs to break its YOKE and Remove its Burden.
It is indeed very very sad, and tragical, that a LOT of people believe almost everything V.O. says. Unfortunately most of them only know what they know through the Orban Goventment-controlled media.
Why, WHY is Orban so obsesed with Soros?
Who the fruit cares how much profit Soros makes! If Soros pays his due taxes (unlike Trump), then live and let live. Is Orban jealous or what? What is the root cause of V.O.’s obsession with Soros?
It seems very much like V.O. wants to blame all of Hungary’s ills on a SINGLE INDIVUDUAL named Soros, he is V.O.’s sole scapegoat – NO, I take that back, the EU is the other one.
Soros and his billions – has done more damage in the US than you can imagine and it continues. The worlds largest economy by far – I can only imagine what he can do to a tiny country like Hungary – you are fools to think otherwise. The explosion in crime alone is a direct result of his money and is the dems biggest donor that is destroying the country. They and the EU are responsible for the war.
Next your going to tell us they are for the corruption in Ukraine and have been for years. The Vice President and now president and his family have been getting millions from Ukraine and billions from China for years- it documented with receipts. Anything that happens in Hungary is small change. The US has enough for Europe but they insisted on the NS- 1-2. Trump warned them what would happen and now it has. Day one Biden stopped much of the energy production in the US – the major source of wealth. Next month election should determine if it remains a free country.
FBI raids with 20-30 swat team. Last week a young man with 7 kids was raided at his home with his family traumatized. Charges for a protest at a abortion clinic were dismiss by the state court but targeted anyway. There killings every 10 minutes in the US and the largest law enforcement agency is focused on this.
Thanks to Soros money many large cities have DAs Funded by Soros NGOs – new one every month. He only added 18 Billion last year to the US kitty. Tell us again how V.O. Is picking on Soros and his many NGOs
and unwilling to prosecute violent crime.
Regarding “Soros and his billions”: ALl of his “billions” add up to a net wealth of US$ 6.7b (!). He is only the equal 128th (!) wealthiest American, while the Kochs are equal 13th. >> https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/ <<
Can anyone SERIOUSLY believe that any of that money is enough to create all of Hungary's woes, or the US's for that matter?
..On the other hand,
*Nb.
I don’t remember writing “..On the other hand,”, ODD, but not surprised to see that happen here.