PM Orban: We Will Win the Next Election, Too + Video

The opposition is always the same — although the outfit changes — but there’s no trouble so long as they’re breathing down your neck from behind, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told Kronika Online. He emphasized that Fidesz is fighting for Hungary’s independence and historical truth, while facing a shady international formation funded from abroad that seeks to take control of the government using foreign money and influence.

Neither Far-Right, Nor Far-Left

Regarding Romania's presidential election in May, Kronika also inquired about PM Orban's earlier comments on George Simion, the presidential candidate of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), which drew sharp reactions from ethnic Hungarians in Transylvania. Both the Transylvanian Hungarian community and its representatives have firmly rejected cooperation with the far right.

– That’s exactly right,

Romanian Hungarians should not cooperate with the far right — or with the far left, for that matter.

In other words, they should avoid working with those who are enemies of Hungarians. And who those enemies are, the people here in Transylvania know better than anyone else in the world,” Mr. Orban stated.

The prime minister commended Transylvanian Hungarians for their actions during the election: “They did an outstanding job protecting themselves from a far-right candidate,” he said. Mr. Orban said he was surprised by the storm his comments caused, which, he noted, were consistent with his long-standing principles.

– “I said we won’t interfere in Romania's current presidential race. But from Tihany — this symbolic location — the message we're sending is this: we assure the Romanian people and their future president, whoever that may be, that we stand on the ground of cooperation and unity,” PM Orban said, recalling his earlier remarks.

Hungary Will Not Support Any Retaliation

“This is how it'll be tomorrow, the day after, and even five years from now, because it is essential that Hungary does not support any isolation or political retaliation against Romania or its leaders — regardless of who the Romanian president is,” the prime minister added.

– “So no one should expect me to support retaliatory actions against any democratically elected Romanian leader or government within the European Union—where, by the way, retaliation is common. They’re trying to punish us, too. But we Hungarians will stand with the Romanians if Brussels tries to retaliate against them for defending their sovereignty or their Christian values. That’s our message now — and this is what it'll stay even five years from now,” Mr. Orban said.

We Cannot Forget About Hungarians Living Abroad

In response to Kronika’s point that not everyone is pleased with Hungary’s considerable support for ethnic Hungarians abroad over the past fifteen years, Mr. Orban responded: “If someone doesn’t understand why we support the Hungarian communities, schools, and institutions in Transylvania, then I can’t help them.”

– Itt beszorult helyzetben vannak a magyarok, száz év óta küszködnek a túlélésért, és aki nem érti, hogy mi történik, nem érinti meg a szívét, nem megy be a haja alá, azon nem tudok segíteni.

“Hungarians here are in a difficult position — they’ve been struggling to survive for a hundred years. If you don’t understand what’s going on, if it doesn’t touch your heart, doesn’t get under your skin, then I can’t help you. 

To someone whose heart isn’t Hungarian, I can’t explain what it means to be Hungarian,

and if you are Hungarian, my friend, back home in ‘Little Hungary, "then you cannot forget about the other Hungarians—those who are also Hungarian and who count on you and need your help,” PM Orban said.

Hungarian Nation Has No Borders

Viktor Orban made it clear: Hungary is not giving handouts.

– “We are a national government. History may draw borders here or there, but the Hungarian nation exists — 

and you can’t divide it with borders. A country has borders — a nation does not.”

“To me, we are one nation. You are a part of that nation, just as I am—a man from Transdanubia. I am a part of the nation, and so are you. It’s all the same to me. That’s why we’re not doing anyone a favor or just handing out support. We must think about the survival and strengthening of this nation and all its parts. And we must help one another in that,” PM Orban said.

Cover photo: Viktor Orban gives an interview to Kronika Online (Source: Facebook)