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PM Orbán: Europe is suffering from Brussels’ decision to go to war

In this morning’s interview on Kossuth Radio, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed a range of pressing issues, including the economic impact of war in Europe, family protection policies, and the need for a more family-friendly coalition in Europe. Here is a summary of his key points.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán began his interview on "Good Morning, Hungary" by highlighting the detrimental consequences of Brussels' decision to engage in conflict, stating that "the whole of Europe is suffering as a result of Brussels' decision to go to war." He also stressed the importance of pushing for peace, saying, "The more economic trouble war causes, the louder the question will be asked: Why are we doing this?"

PM Orbán expressed his impatience and frustration regarding inflation, attributing it primarily to European politics and war. He stated, "I am impatient and angry about inflation, like everyone else. It has been brought about by European politics, primarily the war. If the war were over, the economic situation would improve immediately." He also highlighted the negative impact of speculators profiting from the ongoing conflict, emphasizing that countries were suffering as a result.

The prime minister acknowledged that Hungary could not exempt itself from the effects of war, reiterating the importance of thus resolving the conflict as soon as possible. "We cannot expect a fairy with a magic wand to end the war unless US President Joe Biden turns into a fairy. But if he wanted to, he could end the war," Orbán said. Nevertheless, he remains hopeful that the government measures in place will help reduce inflation to below 10 percent by the year's end.

PM Orbán said that he “holds a harsh opinion” of Ukraine increasing the transit price for fuel. According to the prime minister, we are forced to import fuel at three and a half times the price, which means an extra HUF 48 billion. This will push up the price of gasoline and also increase inflation by half a percent, he said.

The prime minister also underscored the significance of family protection policies and their role in addressing demographic challenges. "The government's aim is that those who have children should live better financially than those who do not," he said, revealing that the government’s family policy measures had already led to the birth of 160,000 more children and it is committed to further initiatives in this regard.

Viktor Orbán also highlighted the importance of creating a family-friendly coalition within Europe and envisions a Europe that leaves behind gender propaganda and the double standards against Hungary and Poland. He believes that Hungary has a good chance of influencing family policy in Brussels, particularly during its EU Presidency.

The prime minister criticized the Brussels bureaucracy for failing to represent European interests effectively. He noted that more and more countries and parties are also increasingly critical of Brussels, aligning with Hungary in this regard.

PM Orbán concluded with Hungary's stance on the Ukrainian grain situation, noting that they had fought to prevent Ukrainian grain from staying in Hungary. He expressed the government’s intention to extend the import ban on Ukrainian grain, claiming that Brussels was siding with American interests over the interests of the European people.