PM Orban: Over 1.6 Million Ballots Returned in Consultative Vote

Hungary’s interest lies in achieving a ceasefire and peace, followed by arms limitation talks. Ukraine's EU membership would be an act of economic suicide, with consequences that would ruin the European economy, and primarily the economies of neighboring countries, Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated in his weekly interview on Kossuth Radio’s morning broadcast.

The Hungarian prime minister said that yesterday CPAC showcased the lineup of the entire Western world who will take over the governance of their respective countries. In his view, this movement is slowly but surely gaining a majority in Europe. There are more and more voices saying that 

there is no place for Ukraine's fast-tracked EU accession.

PM Orban called CPAC an international  fight club, meant to fight for truth and against lies. He argued that Brussels has responded to every crisis—financial, migration, COVID, energy, inflation—by stripping member states of their powers. Yet, it turned out that Brussels failed to resolve these crises. In his view,

Ukraine's membership is an excuse to take even more powers away from the member states and transfer them to Brussels.

"We must resist this, or we will suffer," he stated. Viktor Orban believes that while a growing number of people support resistance, they are not yet well-organized, which is why the patriots movement was founded—and it is gaining strength. He highlighted that one of the most serious issues is strengthening defense capabilities.
Since Russia is considered a threat,

we could easily get caught up in an arms race that would consume Hungarians' money

he opined. Viktor Orban believes that Hungary’s interest lies in a ceasefire and peace, followed by disarmament talks. 

Ukraine's EU membership would be an act of economic suicide, with consequences that would ruin the European economy, and primarily the economies of neighboring countries,

he noted.

In his opinion, work must be done so that everyone has a job, but if workers arrive in large numbers, trouble will arise from that. But protecting the pension system and agriculture also demands that we say no to Ukraine's membership. 

Extension of Markups Cap 

The government has decided to extend the mandatory cap on markups for a range of products, despite retailers requesting its termination due to product shortages and the possibility that foreign suppliers could replace Hungarian ones if the measure remains.

Regarding the cap on markups, Viktor Orban stated that the regulation has fulfilled the hopes attached to it. Nevertheless, he also emphasized that the shock effect of high prices and inflation does not disappear overnight; people feel endangered, they are alert and protecting themselves.

Prices for 900 food items have been reduced, and the regulation was recently extended to drugstores, affecting 420 products.

It's better than it was, the problem is smaller,

 said Viktor Orban. He highlighted that the government set a 10 percent markup cap for food products and 15 percent for drugstore products, adding that anything above this is an unjustified price increase.

 

"As If It Were Happening to Us"

Regarding the salt mine disaster in Praid [Parajd in Transylvania], Viktor Orban stated,

 Praid is a part of Hungarians' national identity. Over the past 10–15 years, so many Hungarians have visited and come to love the place as their own that it feels as if it belonged to us.”

"What is happening there is as if it were happening to us," PM Orban stated, adding that not only the government, but also many people stand ready to help, but for now the situation is very difficult, almost hopeless.

PM Orban emphasized that

other areas, especially Haromszek and its surroundings, are also suffering and will need help. 

Floods in the Haromszek region created a serious situation. In these places, waters one to two meters high stand in gardens and houses, so the Hungarians living there will need help.

Speaking about the political party representing ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Viktor Orban noted that the RMDSZ (Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania) is a well-organized party that promotes Hungarian interests, not only politically but economically, too. He said he was in contact with RMDSZ leader Hunor Kelemen and promised that 

full support from the Hungarian government not only to Praid but to all Hungarians living there.

Cover photo: Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the studio of Kossuth Radio (Photo: MTI/Prime Minister’s General Department of  Communication/Vivien Cher Benko)