PM Orban: The council chamber was a scene of war on migration

Unconventionally, the prime minister spoke to public radio from Brussels.

It was a freedom fight, not a mutiny 

PM Orban also touched on a topic that the Brussels-based Politico had described as a "migration mutiny” at yesterday's EU meeting. Well, it was a freedom fight, not a mutiny, Mr Orban said, recalling the earlier accord that proposals on migration could only be adopted with full consensus. Despite this, a proposal on mandatory migrant quotas was recently pushed through the Council of Interior Ministers in a "coup-like manner". "Why make agreements if we do not stick to them?" Hungary’s prime minister asked, adding that

here could be a link between the quota decision and the change of leadership at the helm of the Soros empire.

We showed an example on how to manage migration

PM Orban indicated that 

Hungary is to accept up to 10,000 people and build migrant ghettos, according to the adopted plan. "The decisions taken so far have put an end to the previous situation, which could be described as a state of calm," he added. He said some were still confusing the issues of guest workers and migration, and to them, he usually explains that he has seen the hordes of migrants crossing through Hungary, and they will not become a diligent workforce for German industry. Apart from this, there are some ideological considerations, too, where the Soros empire acts as a mouthpiece, using its influence in the media. "Last year 45 migrant applications were submitted in Hungary, and we showed an example as to how migration should be tackled," the prime minister said.

According to Mr Orban, 

the solution is real simple: we must keep the migrants out of Europe until their applications are evaluated. All it takes is willpower.

 "Hungary has embarked on generous aid missions, for example in Africa, because we need to help where the trouble is, and the main thing is to prevent people from leaving for the European continent," he said.

Hungary will not become a vulnerable country  

Turning to domestic policy issues, Mr Orban emphasized that Hungary has been adversely affected by the rise in energy prices, adding that the country has achieved fantastic efficiency in the use of solar energy. "We will get to the point where Hungary will no longer be a vulnerable country. However, we are not there yet," he said, "so we have to be proactive and help people. Subsequently, the government has pledged to bring inflation down into single digits by year's end, something our recently adopted measures will also help to achieve," Mr Orban said. 

The situation could turn around in the second half of the year, with the rate of wage growth exceeding price hikes. It would be a huge feat if - looking at the whole year - people could maintain the value of their incomes,

he said. According to Mr Orban, the compulsory sales promotions are an important tool, and the scope of discounts that supermarkets must provide has been increased, with fixed-price products also being included in these promotions packages. The prime minister said he hopes that Hungarian families will get through these difficult six to seven months, and that their prospects will start improving again.

 The most important priority is to protect jobs

If there is work, there is everything, Mr Orban contended. Therefore, the most important thing is to protect jobs. If people work, there will be solutions to all problems. The second most important thing is to think about those who are not working. The value of pensions must be preserved and the 13th month pension must also be protected, he said. In addition, the value of family allowances must be preserved. He said changes were needed, because the government-sponsored family home-creation scheme (CSOK) did well in the villages, but the number of applications was dwindling in the cities. Changes were also implemented in the so-called prenatal baby support scheme, which next year will be available to those aged over 30 and expecting a baby. At the same time, Mr Orban underlined that the amounts paid out in the context of both the Village CSOK and the prenatal baby allowance would increase from 2024.

This year will torment us, but in the end we will come out stronger than before,

 PM Orban said in concluding the interview. 

Unconventional interview, from Brussels 

Prime Minister Orban's interview on the "Good Morning, Hungary" program of Hungary's Kossuth Radio's began at 7.30 am, local time, unconventionally, from Brussels.

PM Orban arrived in Brussels for a two-day summit of EU leaders. In a video message posted on Facebook, he said the European Commission had submitted a budget amendment proposal asking member states to make massive additional payments, to the tune of  hundreds of billions of euros. "The question arises: how did this situation come about, and how could they bring the European Union to the brink of bankruptcy?" Mr Orban said.

Cover photo: PM Viktor Orban gives an interview to Hungary's public Kossuth Radio (Photo: Prime Minister's Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)