PM Orban: European Leaders Don't Realize They Are Playing with Fire + Video

Now is the time to decide that we will not be drawn into the war, emphasized Hungary's Prime Minister.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Kossuth Radio's program (Photo: Prime Minister’s Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)

"The world powers are coming up with new weapons systems, and these are increasingly effective weapons. We are at the starting point of a new arms race, and everyone is talking about increasing military budgets," said Prime Minister Viktor Orban in an interview with Kossuth Radio’s 'Good Morning, Hungary' program on Friday morning.

Viktor Orban (Photo: Prime Minister’s Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)

The Hungarian Prime Minister noted that some say Europe is where it was  in 1938, while others compare today’s situation to the era before the First World War.

European leaders do not realize that they are playing with fire,

he underlined. In his view, Europe is heading toward war. He called statements like those made by Ursula von der Leyen, saying Europe must be ready for war within five years, dangerous.

"Now is the time to decide that we will not be drawn into the war. We must put our foot down and stay on the side of peace," he added. He called it crucial for Hungary to have a pro-peace government.

The Situation Is Better Than a Year Ago

"The situation is much better than it was before: today it is the Europeans who are talking about war, although we do not advise them to do so. We are satisfied if we can at least influence our own future. Hungary does not have enough strength to make those who speak of war follow us, but we can share our opinion. The situation was worse a year ago because the Americans were then on the side of war," said Viktor Orban. 

Hungary's Prime Minister highlighted that

even the Russians see things differently now, while Ukraine, having lost twenty percent of its territory, wants to continue fighting, so there is no point of rest in this war.

"Those who believe the war must continue are mistaken. It only produces frozen front lines, costs countless lives and enormous sums of money, and drags other countries into the war," Viktor Orban pointed out.

 We are in a very dangerous situation. Those who want peace will make it happen,

he emphasized.
The Prime Minister took the view that today there is only one major power that wants peace—the United States of America—yet EU member states do not support President Donald Trump’s peace efforts. "We say one thing and then do another," he added.

Europe's Economy Is in Trouble, Yet Brussels is Bent on Sending Money to Ukraine

Those who support Ukraine are in fact supporting the war, Viktor Orban said, pointing out that since war requires money, anyone supporting Ukraine is also supporting higher taxes. "When Brussels sends money to Ukraine, it is also sending our money," he said. He noted that the European Union plans to send 20 percent of its next budget to Ukraine, even though the European economy is in deep trouble.

The Tisza Party wants to introduce a pension tax and raise other taxes because they know that more money will have to be sent to Brussels,

he said.

Viktor Orban pointed out that the United States now has a president who seeks peace, and Hungary’s interest lies in ensuring that his peace efforts prevail.  The Vatican remains the spiritual center of peace, he said, and his meeting with the Holy Father reaffirmed that Hungary is on the right path. He also mentioned that pro-peace governments have now taken office in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and he expects similar developments elsewhere.

We Must See the World Through Others' Eyes Too

Speaking about his upcoming meeting with Donald Trump, Viktor Orban said the talks could bring Europe closer to peace and to a future peace summit.

"We have been working on this meeting for a long time. It is not only about meeting the President of the United States, but we are almost having a ‘Hungarian Day’, with economic leaders, several ministers, and the national security chief advisor attending. Of course, the most important topic is peace, but it may also open the way for new U.S.–Hungarian economic cooperation,"

he revealed.
The Prime Minister went on to say that for months he has been working to help Americans visualize the map of Europe, because, as he put it, "there is only one globe, but there are many perspectives. Since we are not large enough, we must learn to see the world through others’ eyes," he said. "In bilateral relations, energy security is key, and investors need clarity about what to expect in Hungary," he emphasized.
 

Since Hungary is a landlocked country, it is vulnerable in terms of transport routes, he pointed out.

"We must make others understand these difficulties. But we are not completely alone, as Germany, though it has a coastline, also requested an exemption from one of the sanctions, even though they were previously the ones tugging at our sleeve," he said.

Serious Problems with Tisza's Proposals

According to Viktor Orban, an economist deals with numbers and makes proposals, while an economic policymaker sees people behind those numbers. That is why, he said, economic expertise is necessary, but politicians must not blindly follow economists.

The problem with the Tisza Party’s proposals is that we have already tried them, and they did not work,

he remarked. The approaches adopted by the Tisza Party and the Democratic Coalition (DK) must be forgotten, he stressed. In his view, austerity cannot put the Hungarian economy back on a growth path.

"The Hungarian economy cannot grow faster than one percent precisely because there is a war. The war is blocking the European economy," he added.  Peace is the most important economic interest of Hungarian families, he emphasized.

He called it almost a miracle that during a time when Europe’s economy is blocked by war, Minister of National Economy Marton Nagy is able to simultaneously launch wage increase programs, a three-percent home creation loan scheme, and Europe’s largest tax cut.

Experts Are Working on Introducing a 14th-Month Pension

On the subject of the 14th-month pension, the Prime Minister said that although left-wing parties claim now is not the right time, experts are already working on it.

"We are always working on pensions and wages. Many people think that what has already happened is behind us and no longer matters, but it is important to remember. In 2010, pensioners suffered because previous governments had reduced the value of pensions. We therefore made an agreement with pensioners’ organizations that this would never happen again. We sweated blood, but we succeeded," Viktor Orban said. "I believe a 14th-month pension is necessary. Opposition economic experts say this is not the time, but I say yes, this is the time, and we must make it happen. We will not be able to introduce it in a single step, the experts are still working on the exact plan," stressed Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Cover photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Kossuth Radio's program (Photo: Prime Minister’s Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)

További játékainkhoz kattintson ide!