Responding to the widespread perception of being a polarizing figure, Prime Minister Orbán rejected the notion as a misunderstanding of democratic debate. “The essence of democracy is that there exists a difference of opinions,” he said. “If you don't polarize opinions, how will you discuss them?” For the PM, the attention he receives abroad is not the result of self-promotion, but the unintended effect of opposition: “It’s through my enemies. They were my PR people in America.” He pointed to his 2015 stance on halting illegal migration as the moment when he drew international focus — especially after publicly naming George Soros as a key figure behind the push to relocate migrants into Europe.
PM Orbán took issue with accusations that his criticism of Soros was antisemitic, emphasizing that Soros is a political actor with global influence. “He has become one of the most important political actors of the world,” he explained, describing Soros as a guru for the left who finances causes that undermine traditional society. “He's giving money for bad things, for bad people. And this is not good. And you have to fight against this.”
Dismissing criticism from liberal, Western figures about “eroding democracy,” the prime minister said, “I am a street fighter. I actually come from the anti-communist resistance,” noting his roots in Hungary’s democratic movement and his extensive time in both government and opposition. “Those criticizing me are very lucky people. They were born into democracy. They’ve never lived in a dictatorship, and now they are lecturing me about democracy.”
PM Orbán described the real conflict as a hidden ideological struggle between progressive globalism and conservative nationalism. “There is a hidden fight for the soul of the West,” he said. “They want to dismantle traditional frameworks — Christianity, the nation, the family. And we are the ones saying no.” In his view, the reason Hungary is under attack is not for breaking norms, but for standing as a successful alternative. “Not only are we different, not only are we a maverick, we are a successful country.”
The prime minister expressed deep concern over the growing influence of international organizations, including the European Union, which he argued has drifted from its original purpose. “Brussels is no longer about coordinating member states,” he warned. “It has become a power center… a Frankenstein. It has its own empire, its own agenda.” He accused the EU of weaponizing legal tools, like daily fines, to punish Hungary for refusing to admit illegal migrants. “They are taking one million euros every day from us as a fine,” he stated.
On the issue of foreign influence in domestic politics, Prime Minister Orbán drew attention to what he called the “gray zone” of NGOs, influencers, and think tanks that shape public opinion without accountability. “Follow the money,” he urged. “There are people here who are influencing Hungarian affairs, and somebody else is paying them. That’s not good.” He emphasized the need for transparency laws to identify who is financing political narratives in Hungary.
Turning to the war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Orbán offered a sharply critical view of the West’s handling of the crisis. He explained that Ukraine had served as a buffer zone between Russia and NATO — until Western leaders, backed by the U.S., sought to integrate it into Western military and economic structures. “The Russians said up front they will not put up with that,” he said, contending that a different U.S. president could have prevented the escalation. “If there had been a serious president, like Donald Trump, he would have prevented the war.”
PM Orbán underscored the economic toll the war has taken on Europe. “The Ukrainians don’t have a penny. The whole Ukrainian army is being financed by the Americans and Europe,” he said. “We are beating ourselves into the ground. Inflation is soaring. Energy prices have skyrocketed.” He argued that Hungary was right to call for peace and a return to a neutral buffer zone. “This is an economic disaster for Europe,” he stated plainly. “We need a ceasefire. We need peace.”
Despite Hungary’s relatively small size, the prime minister said the country’s influence stems from its intellectual and moral position. “It is the moral and the intellectual content of our struggle that made Hungary so interesting,” he noted. “Otherwise, nobody would care about a country of 10 million, a small army, not a huge GDP.”
“Our only sin is also that we are successful,” Prime Minister Orbán concluded. For him, the global attention Hungary receives is proof not of provocation, but of principled resistance to a changing world order — one he believes Hungary is uniquely equipped to confront.