Prime Minister Orbán declared that Hungary’s national interest is directly tied to Israel’s stability. “Israel is our friend, and we will not arrest our guests,” he said during an interview on Kossuth Rádió, referencing Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. The prime minister explained that Hungary never integrated the court’s treaty into national law, describing the ICC as a political institution. He also noted that major powers like the United States are not members.
He also emphasized the rise of antisemitism in Western Europe and linked it directly to increased migration. In contrast, he said, Hungary remains a safe haven: “The Jewish community is safest in Hungary. They come here gladly and spend their money here.” Prime Minister Orbán underscored that developments in Israel impact Hungary, particularly for many Budapest residents who consider Israel a second home. He also pointed to strong business and tourism ties between the two countries.
PM Orbán also laid out Hungary’s strategic objectives for the year, specifically 10 national goals—five economic and five political:
Economic goals:
- Reduce consumer prices across key sectors
- Implement the largest tax cut in Europe
- Launch the “100 factories” program
- Expand support for small and medium-sized enterprises
- Refund VAT on food purchases to pensioners
Political goals:
- Launch a public consultation on Ukraine’s EU membership
- Eliminate foreign political financing
- Strengthen child protection policies
- Introduce development packages for small towns
- Intensify anti-drug efforts nationwide
These initiatives are underpinned by positive economic forecasts. The Hungarian economy is expected to grow from 0.7-0.8 percent in the first quarter to 3.5 percent by the third. PM Orbán attributed this to record-high employment, stating, “Never have so many people worked in Hungary.” He aims to raise the number of employed individuals to 5 million, highlighting increased Roma workforce participation.
Turning to global affairs, the prime minister reiterated Hungary’s commitment to peace. He voiced support for Donald Trump’s role in halting the escalation of the war in Ukraine, contrasting it with what he described as the West’s war-driven agenda. “Trump has ensured that the war has not spread westward,” PM Orbán said. He also acknowledged that Hungarian citizens are fighting on the front lines, reinforcing the urgency of Hungary’s peace plan.
Domestically, he addressed rising costs in food, telecommunications, and banking. While the government has already intervened in the food sector, PM Orbán expressed hope that negotiations with service providers will prevent further intervention. He also criticized the banking sector for passing high costs onto families despite recent profitable years.
PM Orbán described Hungary’s anti-drug campaign as a top priority. Following a visit to Tarnazsadány, he shared a tragic case involving synthetic drugs and praised local leadership and police efforts. More than 1,000 operations have been conducted, resulting in the seizure of hundreds of kilos of narcotics. The prime minister reiterated a zero-tolerance stance, saying, “We don’t target users, we go after the dealers. If there’s no drug, there’s no addict.”
Finally, he announced a proposed legal amendment to prevent major traffic disruptions during protests. While affirming the importance of freedom of assembly, PM Orbán argued that demonstrations cannot be allowed to paralyze Budapest. “It’s not right for thousands to be stuck in traffic while a few hundred people block bridges. We will change the law to stop this,” he concluded.