Speaking before a full house, PM Orbán made it clear that peace, national sovereignty, and political stability remain inseparable goals for Hungary in the period ahead.
Recalling the early years of political organizing that later gave rise to Fidesz, the prime minister described Szombathely as a cornerstone of the civic right-wing. He reminded participants that the city played a decisive role in past electoral victories and urged supporters not to settle for less as the next election approaches. While internal polling shows strong results locally, PM Orbán stressed that opportunity alone does not equal victory. “You can only win at one moment,” he said, adding that success depends on sustained work until the very end.
The prime minister underlined that the Digital Civic Circles represent a continuation of the civic circles formed after the 2002 election defeat, thanking local organizers and community leaders for keeping the movement alive. According to PM Orbán, strong local communities—whether cultural, sporting, or faith-based—form the backbone of national strength.
Turning to the issue of war and peace, the prime minister drew on historical examples to illustrate the importance of being able to say no. He recalled the 1999 Balkan conflict, arguing that Hungary avoided being dragged into war because its leadership acted in the national interest. He also evoked the devastation suffered by Szombathely during World War II, noting that the city remains among Hungary’s most heavily damaged wartime urban areas. “Everyone here knows what war means,” he said. “That is why the message is clear: never again war.”
PM Orbán warned that decisions being prepared in Brussels are steadily pushing Europe closer to conflict. He rejected the idea of European or NATO troops being deployed to Ukraine and said Hungary will not accept any scenario that puts Hungarian lives at risk. The 2026 election, he argued, will determine whether Hungary remains outside the war or is pulled into it by external pressure.
Addressing foreign policy, the prime minister announced that he will meet Donald Trump in Washington in the coming weeks, emphasizing the importance of maintaining balanced relations with all major global powers. Hungary’s security, he said, rests on peace, preparedness, and independent decision-making.
Concluding his remarks, PM Orbán argued that Western Hungary is indispensable to national governance. “Without this region, there is no stable government,” he said, calling on voters in Győr-Moson-Sopron, Vas, and Zala counties to recognize the weight of their mandate. Peace, sovereignty, and continuity, he concluded, are on the ballot.