Viktor Orban Declares War on Spread of Drugs

In his annual state of the nation address on Saturday, the Hungarian prime minister announced a zero-tolerance policy against drug dealers. Regardless of political leanings, there is broad consensus that the spread of drugs must be curbed and a comprehensive drug strategy must be developed. However, there is disagreement over the methods and approaches.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivering his state of the nation address (Photo: Attila Polyak)

"Drug dealers destroy and kill someone else’s children," Viktor Orban stated in his annual address on Saturday. Offenders deserve neither leniency nor mercy, and they will receive none, he stressed. 

The Hungarian prime minister described the data regarding the increase in the sale and consumption of drugs as alarming.

Cheap, toxic concoctions, synthetic substances have flooded the country,

he said, pointing out that this must be curbed at any cost. He said he will appoint a designated government commissioner and the government will introduce zero tolerance

Magyar Nemzet reached out to several institutions and organizations involved in addressing drug-related issues or providing expertise and advice. Kristof Teglasy, strategic director at the Drug Research Institute, told our paper in a previous piece that he welcomed that the prime minister touched on the seriousness of the problem of drug trafficking and drug use in Hungary.

We can expect a reinforcement of the previously defined directions in the national anti-drug strategy, which prioritizes prevention, full recovery-oriented treatment, and zero tolerance,

Kristof Teglasy noted, emphasizing the importance of both crime prevention and strengthening drug prevention efforts. He also pointed out that the fight against drugs is closely linked to child protection, as a fairly high proportion of young people try drugs.

As is known, the Fidesz–Christian Democrats faction in the assembly of Budapest's municipality tried to revoke the capital's drug strategy designed by leftist-liberal actors, but the proposal failed due to votes from the Tisza Party.

In December, the Drug Research Institute criticized the drug strategy adopted by the Budapest municipality, stating that it not only contradicts the principles of the National Anti-Drug Strategy but also contains professionally questionable priorities. The capital's drug strategy, they argued, does not seek to combat substance use but rather portrays it as an unavoidable reality. It places disproportionately little emphasis on prevention and full recovery-focused treatment while outright rejecting zero tolerance.

Magyar Nemzet contacted the Rights Reporter Foundation (Jogriporter Alapitvany), an organization advocating for drug liberalization, to comment. On his blog called Drogriporter, Peter Sarosi wrote: 

We have the strictest drug laws in Europe.

In Sarosi's view, Hungary has lacked a proper drug strategy for years, while the police struggle with funding shortages. Even if the government suddenly injects money into enforcement, he argued, the war on drugs has failed everywhere in the world. Sarosi envisions a national drug strategy that includes a national drug coordination body working with civil sector organizations, a policy research institute providing professional support, and a tender system for financing these efforts. 

Magyar Nemzet also reached out to the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ), but they did not wish to comment on what was said by PM Orban in his annual address. "Drug trafficking cannot be interpreted as an exercise of civil liberties. Therefore, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union does not wish to take a position on the government’s criminal policy plans, especially given the current level of detail available," TASZ’s press department responded to our inquiry.  

Cover photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivering his state of the nation address (Photo: Attila Polyak)