In his Friday interview, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared, "A country where people are beaten to death over forced conscription cannot be a member of the EU." The Hungarian man, a dual citizen from Transcarpathia, reportedly died after being assaulted, possibly with a metal rod, and later passed away unexpectedly in the hospital.
"He was a Hungarian citizen, part of our community, and we must protect his family," the prime minister stated, emphasizing the need for a full investigation into the matter.
This incident, he said, is rooted in the ongoing war. "Many believe the front is far away, and so is the war — but it is right next door," said Prime Minister Orbán, underlining the proximity and relevance of the conflict to Hungary. He criticized the Ukrainian government's response and reiterated that such actions are incompatible with EU values.
On the broader conflict, Prime Minister Orbán described the Russian-Ukrainian war as a "blood mill" that has ground both Ukraine and Europe down. "This war cannot be solved on the battlefield — only diplomacy can help," he said, adding that pretending Ukraine could win is misleading. In his words, "Ukraine and Europe have lost this war, yet they act as if it were still winnable."
Addressing Ukraine's EU aspirations, he criticized the European leadership: "The EU leaders speak of Ukraine as if it has met all accession criteria. I just hold my head in disbelief." According to him, Ukraine lacks civil liberties, operates on Western financial support, and has shown no intent to end the war. "If we admit Ukraine, we admit the war," he warned.
The prime minister also drew sharp political lines at home, labeling Tisza and DK as pro-war parties, while naming Fidesz and the Patriots as the peace-oriented forces. "Hungary faces two choices: Engage in war or strive to localize the conflict," he said.
Turning to economic matters, Prime Minister Orbán highlighted the EU’s declining competitiveness, warning that Brussels has "no forward-looking plan" to address it. He praised Audi’s integration into Hungary’s economy, citing 10,000-12,000 direct jobs and 50,000 dependent livelihoods. However, he acknowledged recent challenges in engine production. "Hungary wants to be like Germany was 15 years ago, not like it is today," he said, cautioning against importing current German economic conditions.
On housing policy, the prime minister introduced the new Home Start Loan program, offering 3 percent fixed-rate home loans starting in September. Also available for individuals not living in families, the program follows earlier family-focused policies like tax exemptions on parental benefits. “This loan will make monthly repayments cheaper than renting,” he added.
Finally, PM Orbán addressed recent severe weather, highlighting the scale of the government response: "More than 2,000 people were mobilized. This isn’t Facebook work — it’s real action." He expressed gratitude to all who contributed to managing the crisis, noting the recent storms had the most serious impact on the national power grid in three decades. "When trouble strikes, these people deliver extra performance," he concluded.