Editorial: An interview with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban appeared just before the EP election. In these elections, Fidesz won – 44.8% and 11 seats, TISZA (new Peter Magyar group) – 29.6% – 7 seats, Democratic Coalition/Socialists/Greens – 8.1% – 2 seats and Mi Hazank – 6.7% – 1 mandate. Despite the weakening of Magyar Fidesz's activities, as the Hungarian minister Peter Szijjarto noted, the top support in past in absolute numbers – over 2 million votes. Intelligence proves one more time how pervasive a politician, reasoning and seeing the state of affairs wider, deeper and farther than any of the current European leaders, is Victor Orban. In particular, the difference between Orban and parliamentary "elites" of power in Poland is shocking – of course to the detriment of these "elite". Adam Laughter
On Sunday, the Prime Minister will have double elections, self-government and the European Parliament in Hungary, but the run of the ruling parties focuses solely on the war. Although there are many another crucial topics, why do you give the origin of war specified a advanced priority?
Orban: Elections always have 2 aspects. First of all, it's about choosing good leaders. The only question here is – who is simply a good leader? due to the fact that a leader who does well during mild weather will not necessarily be as good during a storm. Therefore, secondly, it is crucial to find the right personality. In another words, we request to know what we request specified a leader for and what awaits us. Definitely the most crucial thing is whether there will be an open war between Russia and Europe and that is why we request to talk about it now. We must choose specified leaders who will be able to prevent Europe from being dragged into war with Russia.
But this situation – the war in our neighbourhood – has been going on for 2 years. Why is it so crucial right now?
The simplest answer to this question is to compare the position of the leading European countries 2 years ago with where we are today. Before that, Germany claimed that they would only send [Ukraine] helmets and categorically refuse to deliver weapons. present German tanks fight in Ukraine and talk about the transfer of anti-aircraft defence systems. present it is debated whether German soldiers can enter Ukraine within the NATO structure. This is how we went from helmets to direct confrontation.
What is the reason?
Europe has failed its first step. We are in no way liable for this situation, as we have stressed from the very beginning that the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine must be isolated and that negotiations are essential on how to deal with this conflict. But European leaders felt that the conflict should be internationalised. In another words, Europe and America, and now NATO, must stand by Ukraine. And erstwhile that decision was made, it was clear that the logic of war would require always greater commitment to war.
Was that visible 2 years ago?
The logic of war is different from that of peace. If you're in war, if your people are dead, you spend money, and your economy adapts to these conditions, then the logic of war is your thinking. Today, the language and logic of war prevail clearly throughout Europe. Hungary is the only exception here.
And isn't it that we're just a verbal exception? After all, we're a NATO member, and we have an obligation?
This is simply a serious challenge for Hungary: will our actions stay in line with our intentions and words? It's always a substance of strength. erstwhile Prime Minister Isztvan Tisha wanted to stay distant from planet War I, he lacked the strength to do so. The same was actual of Miklos Horthy in the case of planet War II. The will always existed, but it lacked strength. Time will show in the coming months whether the current Hungarian government will have adequate strength. That is what the European elections are all about, and that is why I am asking voters to support the opposing war of the Hungarian Government.
What is the connection between elections to the European Parliament and the issue of Hungary remaining outside the war? Basically, we are only sending our representatives to Brussels.
Firstly, the relation is that the function of the European Parliament has been increasing steadily for 20 years as a consequence of interior changes in the European Union. present the budget cannot be adopted without EP approval. It's not a good solution, but it is. Consequently, the EP will play an crucial function in deciding erstwhile and how much money, weapons and assistance the European countries will hand over to Ukraine. Secondly, although we send our representatives to the EP, the elections are held at state level. Therefore, these elections may strengthen or weaken the government, even if they do not concern it directly. That is the nature of democracy. I hope that European pro-war governments will be weakened by their own voters, who will give a clear signal that they are demanding change.
Your opponents say you're exaggerating about the war. Do you think it is appropriate to rise the issue of war in this campaign?
In the run before the national elections in 2022, they said that it was an exaggeration to draw up a imagination of the chronic war and place it at the center of electoral issues. Were we exaggerating? Of course, no. all month, and indeed all week over the last 2 years, brings Europe closer to war. And alternatively of slowing down, this process accelerates. Our assessment has been consistent from the very beginning of the war, and time passed has acknowledged us right. NATO, which has so far said that it is up to the associate State to decide on a kind of assistance from Ukraine, now wants to establish a military mission there. In another words, NATO, which [at first] stayed out of conflict, is immersed into a belt today. So anyone who claims that we have exaggerated does not realize what is happening in planet politics.
A fewer days ago NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that they did not imagine [in NATO] that Russia could so rapidly make the capabilities of its arms industry, which now produces 3 times more artillery ammunition than all NATO countries combined. How unfortunate that the mediocre girl didn't think of it! But then what the hell were they thinking? How can specified serious organizations [how can NATO] be governed by people and bodies of specified low competence?
When European leaders decided, above Hungary's heads, to give all the support Ukraine can give, I asked them a simple question: how much does Ukraine request money and weapons to win this war? I didn't get an answer back then and I didn't get it until today. Europe is drifting towards war, and the endurance of Ukraine depends on the support of the West, but Western leaders do not know the scale of the amount of weapons needed, military technology and financial requirements of this war. This is grossly irresponsible.
You utilized the word “drift” towards war. But who or what causes Europe to drift like this?
The drift is caused by the U.S. A will that brings us closer and closer to war comes from overseas. America is the world's top power and if it decides to support any of the fighting parties, the current leaders of Western European states are besides weak to say no. Hungary is the only exception.
Do you think it is possible to turn around from this road, or can Europe halt in the way of falling?
Every war is the consequence of man's decision. We're in the present place due to the fact that the leaders made the incorrect decisions. I see the anticipation of good decisions only if Donald Trump returns to power, and as far as Europe is concerned, it is only if these elections become a strong pro-peace signal for leaders.
You mentioned that it would be beneficial for Donald Trump to return to the White House. But right now, he's in danger of prison.
In the U.S. electoral strategy there are immense fluctuations [support] and you can win elections even while in prison. I think the more Donald Trump is attacked, the more it helps him. present a increasing number of people [in the United States] sees these actions [against Trump] as an effort to deprive them of their right to choose a better opinion of the President, and as an effort to manipulate 1 of the most crucial candidates into a situation without going out just before the election. I think Donald Trump is going to win no substance what the verdict is.
I say you don't think it's a coincidence that Hungarian opposition parties are supported by dollars?
Americans have a power projection strategy around the world, including Hungary, which is an effort to accomplish an impact on the leadership of countries towards their benefit. It is simply a proven system, proven and utilized in many countries. On the 1 hand, it is composed of supporting organizations that claim to be NGO, but are actually active in political activity, supporting opposing parties, supporting the media that work to lower the authority of the government and support it, invent influential people who stand on their side, giving them opportunities for financial and professional development. In any countries this strategy works, in others it does not. Most European countries present are incapable to defy and defend themselves against the American force projection system. Hungary is an island on the liberal ocean, not only due to the fact that they are a conservative country, but besides due to the fact that they are the only country to build a self-defense strategy capable of resisting this large Western American ambition. But America is besides our friend and ally. But present we see more clearly than always that he is both an ally and a friend in the sense that he wants to influence us on issues we disagree on. Trump's presidency was a bright place due to the fact that he didn't. Before the war, the American influence was utilized to exert force on us in intellectual matters. The difference of opinion was most evident in the approach to migration and sex ideology. On these 2 issues, they tried to get the Hungarian Government to change its position. Then we said no and said no today, in wartime.
Will Fidesz join any political group in the European Parliament?
This is simply a hard question, due to the fact that joining any global group always means adaptation and adaptation. Since leaving the European People's Party, which has abandoned its erstwhile values, we have enjoyed the benefits of independence. erstwhile we present our opinions and talk about the interests of Hungary, we do not gotta agree with anyone else in the European Parliament. That's good, but of course it has small meaning in itself. If we join a European group, we will have more influence, but we will besides gotta search a compromise on crucial issues. This is simply a dilemma facing Fidesz, so we do not rush to make a decision on accession.
Can you imagine a situation where Fideshu MPs vote for the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen?
Nope. Support for her would be like trying to commit execution on the most fundamental ideals of democracy. There must always be a correlation between the level represented and the election results. 5 years ago, the Commission, led by this person, made clear any commitments, no of which it was able to meet. In specified cases, the leader must leave.
Who is your actual opponent in this election? You have repeatedly pointed out that parties grouping against parties forming the government are not independent, they are directed from outside.
During this election run it became clear that we have no opponents inside the country. mostly due to the fact that those who could be our opponents are not fighting us, but among themselves. At present there is no attitude in Hungary to change power, but to change opposition. Of course, opposition parties race to kick us. However, in reality they do not compete with the government, but have already awarded themselves the first place: the crushing success of the ruling party. They fight each another to see which 1 of them can service as an alternate organization in the future [to the government]. As for the another dimension of your question, it concerns the scale of abroad influences in Hungary. abroad interest groups, from George Soros to American Democrats, see in all election a chance to gain a position in our country. We must defend ourselves against this, regardless of the local Hungarian political actors supported by the Americans, by Brussels or by George Soros. At all election, we have a peculiar match with them.
This is an election run where there are no references to the question of prosperity. Is this due to the fact that the economy is not in its best condition?
The economical situation is closely linked to the war. To put it in numbers, if the planet goes to peace at the end of the year, taking into account the results of the U.S. presidential election, we will gotta spend 2% of our budget on arms spending. If the planet goes to war, then it will mean spending 3 – 3.5% of the budget. This means that if we keep arms spending at 2%, we will have the chance to take prosperity into account in Hungarian economical policy. Otherwise, that's not gonna happen.
At the end of the campaign, an unexpected situation occurred in the form of withdrawing from moving for mayor of Budapest for your candidate Alexandra Szentkiralya. How do you justice this step?
Aleksandra Szentkiralyi is right to say that it is most crucial to open a fresh chapter in Budapest's history. If the current situation continues, this will mean further regression, weakening and worsening surviving conditions in the capital. Of course, it is crucial erstwhile Fidesz wins, but more crucial is something else – that the current city authorities must leave. And since there is another candidate whose views of defeating the current city authorities are greater, she [Shentkiralyi] proposed to retreat from the election, which we accepted.
Aren't you afraid that the Fidesz voter activity in Budapest will be undermined by the withdrawal of this candidacy?
Our voters are intelligent people. I think they will agree with Alexandra Szentkiralya that the most crucial thing present is to get free of the current city authorities. A possible improvement can only be imagined if this happens.
The interview was conducted by Peter Csermelia, Magyar Nemzet, 8 June 2024.
Crowd. Adam Laughter
