The first day of parliament’s autumn session traditionally starts with a speech by the Hungarian Prime Minister. This was the case again this time, with Viktor Orbán setting out the most important issues for him:
Orbán: ‘We will protect Hungary’s sovereignty, independence’
Hungary’s government will not hesitate to use all the tools at the state’s disposal to protect the country’s sovereignty and independence, PM Orbán said on Monday, the first day of parliament’s autumn session.
“We will protect Hungary from any sanctions that threaten the interests, security, well-being, and health of the Hungarian people,” Orbán told lawmakers.
He said Hungary’s government was nationally minded, making it a sovereigntist government. “International cooperation is an important and nice thing, but we know that we can only rely on ourselves,” the prime minister said, adding that national unity and governance had been the answer in “troubling times” throughout Hungary’s history.
“In certain European countries, including Germany, this happened the other way round, and that’s why they’re distrustful and at times even hostile to sovereign governments and sometimes openly and sometimes covertly seek to limit the sovereignty of national governments,” the prime minister said.
Orbán: New economic policy requires new tools
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed lawmakers in parliament on Monday, at the start of the autumn session, and pointed to the need for a new economic policy and new economic solutions to achieve economic success.
Orbán said that without a new economic policy, Hungary can’t preserve the results it has achieved so far. He added that the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and sanctions policies had accelerated the transformation of the global economy.
He also noted efforts to decouple the economies of the East and the West and said the success of those initiatives would be the “worst-case scenario” for Hungary. He added that Hungary’s economy depends on being able to manufacture products competitively for the global market.
He said the government respected “100 percent” the central bank’s independence and the interest rate environment shaped by its monetary policy.
Orbán said the first “action plan” containing government economic policy measures would be submitted to lawmakers with the 2025 budget bill. That plan includes measures to roll out workers’ credit, similar to student loans, to make more capital available to SMEs, to double tax preferences for families with children, and to make the annual pensioners’ bonus permanent.
He said those measures could give impetus to Hungary’s economic growth, adding that the country’s GDP growth needed to reach 3pc-6pc.
‘We’ll transport migrants banging on Hungary’s doors to Brussels’ main square’
Addressing parliament’s plenary session, the prime minister said
“if Brussels continues to insist on the decision punishing Hungary for its stance on migration … we will transport migrants who are banging on Hungary’s doors to its main square”.
Viktor Orbán told the assembly that the issue of migration fuelled heavy debates throughout Europe during the summer.
He noted that Germany closed its borders, France’s new prime minister announced restoring order at its borders, the Netherlands announced drafting its strictest-ever anti-migration laws, and the governments of Sweden and Finland are also discussing their own anti-migration laws.
“The era of free travel will soon be over,” the prime minister said.
He said, “All that would have been needed was to accept Hungary’s advice and follow Hungary’s model of disallowing migrants to enter [the EUn] right at the beginning.”
“And as regards the war [in Ukraine], Hungary will be right, too, just like it was on the issue of migration. There is no solution to the war in the battlefield, where there are only casualties, human suffering and destruction. We need a ceasefire, negotiations and peace,” said Orbán.
read also – Official of Orbán cabinet says they would NOT have defended Hungary in case of a Russian invasion – UPDATED with PM Orbán’s reaction
Hungary’s growth 50pc over EU avg
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Hungary’s economy is expanding at a rate 50pc over the European Union average, but it needs to grow even faster.
Orbán said Hungary’s financial position was “untroubled”.
He noted that Hungary’s 24.5pc investment rate put it in fourth place in the EU, but said the top spot should be the goal. He added that 4,740,000 people were working in Hungary, while the average wage had climbed by 14pc, or 9.4pc adjusted for inflation, in the past year.
He acknowledged that state debt stood around 75pc of GDP, but reaffirmed the 50pc target. He said the budget was “doing well in pro rata terms” to achieve the 4.5pc-of-GDP deficit target.
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Hungary has become stronger over a decade
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that Hungary and the Hungarian state have become stronger over a decade.
The prime minister told lawmakers that compared with the flood of 2013, the Hungarian state was now “more effective, more organised and better prepared”, adding that the decision to extend the flood defence lines after 2013 had been the right one.
This past month’s sudden flood wave was the second biggest one this century, Orbán said, noting that flood protection efforts were under way along the full stretch of the Danube, from Gyor in the northwest to Mohacs in the south. “The flood defence went well and we managed to avert trouble,” he added.
Orbán thanked those who contributed to the flood defence work for their efforts. “We saw once again that if there’s trouble, Hungarians show exemplary unity,” he said. “Something from this should be carried over to peacetime.”
Orbán: Tourism sector finishes ‘record summer’
PM Orbán said that Hungary’s tourism sector reached record highs this summer.
Orbán said the number of Hungarians who took domestic trips and the number of foreigners who visited Hungary had never been higher than in summer. The number of Hungarians who travelled abroad also reached a new record, he added.
He noted that the government had repurchased the operator of Budapest Liszt Ferenc International in the summer and said passenger numbers at the airport were set to climb to 17.5 million this year.
He added that state-owned energy group MVM had acquired a stake in one of the world’s biggest gas fields. related article – Historical agreement: Hungary to buy stake in one of world’s largest gas fields
I propose to create a new line to the Vatican, all pedo-fidesz should be taken out from Hungary ASAP
More political theater with our money! When does it stop??
Brussels is home to many immigrants, with approximately 70% of people of foreign origin making up the region’s population. Approximately 32% of residents are of non-Belgian European origin, and 36% are of other backgrounds, mostly Moroccan, Turkish, and Sub-Saharan African. I think they will enjoy the free transport out of the poorest country in the EU
Hungary protects its’ sovereignty but Orban tells us that Ukraine should not protect its’ sovereignty from Russian invasion. What Orban have you done to tell Putin to stop his war of aggression.? What you have done is buy more Russian oil, expand business with Russia and continually obstruct Ukraine from protecting its’ sovereignty. Fidesz is a menace to European security.
Heck, even I’ll take a free one-way ride to Brussels. I’ve been looking for a way out of Hungary and this might be just the ticket, pun intended.
Larry, Hungary never said Ukraine should not protect its sovereignty. Hungary just does not want a war on its border and refuse to get involved. The decision by P.M. was made on the basis of a referendum. Hungarian people refuse to support Ukraine against Russia. Hungary managed to peacefully co-exist with Russia and benefits from continuous oil/gas supply as well as help with building Paks II.
One day, the EU will accept the fact that Hungary is for Hungarians (the good people); bussing people to Brussels is a good idea Brussels wants migrants. Austria has a majority of a conservative party; this party is not in favor of migration or the Ukraine war. Holland wants to opt out of the EU migration deal and Germany tightened it immigration procedures.
It seems Brussels is going to lose most of its power to interfere in internal affairs of sovereign states.
Refusing to get involved is not what Hungary is doing. It is deeply involved in facilitating Russia’s invasion by using its’ veto power in the EU to block all aid to Ukraine. All Hungary has to do is abstain in its’ votes and then it won’t be involved.
Good for Hungry. Now, Hungary is joined by Slovakia, Austria and the Czeck Republic. Eventually, the EU countries will realize that Hungary was right all along.