Reflecting on the year, PM Orbán rejected any notion of calm. “Advent may be a time of quiet reflection for the people, but for us in politics, there is no silence,” he said. “The political arena is loud, the battles are constant, and we are preparing for a European summit that will be anything but peaceful”.
At the heart of his concern is a fundamental shift in international relations. "Since the new American president took office, the world has changed,” he stated. “A new era is unfolding before our eyes, with increasingly clear outlines.” Hungary, he emphasized, must navigate this new landscape with care and clarity.
On the proposal to use Russia’s frozen funds, PM Orbán was unequivocal: “There is no legal basis for this. If we accept that you can take someone’s money just because you don’t like them, then we are destroying the foundations of European legal culture. This is economic warfare.” He warned that this could lead to consequences far beyond Ukraine: “What happens tomorrow if they decide to seize Hungarian assets for political reasons?”.
The prime minister also voiced concern over NATO rhetoric. Reacting to recent statements by Secretary General Mark Rutte, he said: “When a NATO leader says we are headed for a war like our grandfathers fought, he either doesn’t know what he’s saying—or he knows exactly, and that’s even worse.” He warned that such language, reminiscent of World War rhetoric, should not be taken lightly.
On energy and Hungary’s strategic diplomacy, PM Orbán highlighted the importance of maintaining low utility costs through international cooperation. “Without Washington, Moscow, and Istanbul, we cannot guarantee that Hungarian families will continue paying the lowest energy prices in Europe,” he said. He added, “If there’s no price cap, there’s no protection. And without protection, the cost of living will explode overnight”.
He dismissed criticism of the government’s energy policy as elitist. “The liberal economists are right when they say it's artificial. But who said market brutality is the natural order of things? The state exists to protect people when the market turns against them,” he argued. He called accusations that Hungarians "aren’t learning to save" offensive: “That’s the old liberal arrogance—that people are dumb and must be taught by those who think they know better”.
With mounting global tensions, the prime minister reiterated Hungary’s position: “Peace is in our national interest. We will not allow ourselves to be dragged into a war that isn’t ours.” He concluded, “The new world is forming. We must keep our eyes open—and our distance”.