Reflecting on the past 15 years of his leadership, PM Orbán described Hungary as an "island of difference in a liberal ocean," emphasizing the country's unique policies on migration, national identity, and traditional values. "We have done something for 15 years in Hungary, in a liberal headwind—stopping migration, defending traditional values, respecting religious communities, no Green Deal, low taxation—everything which is unorthodox in the mind of the liberals," he said. While these policies once made Hungary stand out, he noted that President Donald Trump had now taken global attention, shifting the debate in favor of conservative governance.
Discussing U.S. influence on Hungary’s internal affairs, PM Orbán confirmed that U.S. Democrats, through agencies like the State Department and USAID, had funded opposition groups and media outlets to undermine his government. "It was a plot against our sovereignty and independence," he asserted, adding that similar interference came from Brussels, where Hungarian taxpayer money was used against Hungary’s national interests.
Migration remained a key theme of the discussion, with PM Orbán warning that Western elites have ignored the will of their own people. "The liberal elite of the West use taxpayers' money to spread their ideology all around the world," he said, arguing that leftist leaders sincerely believe mass migration will improve their societies, despite growing public opposition. Hungary, he stressed, has consistently rejected this approach: "We always said, let us make our own decisions. Migration is a national matter. It cannot be dictated from Brussels or Washington."
Throughout the discussion, PM Orbán positioned Hungary as a defender of sovereignty, realism, and pragmatic governance. As global power dynamics continue to shift, he made clear that Hungary will maintain its independent course, resisting external pressures and prioritizing national interests above ideological conformity.
Turning to Europe’s economic struggles, PM Orbán pointed out that the EU has lost its competitive edge, falling from the world’s largest economy to third place. He attributed this decline to misguided energy policies and overreliance on bureaucratic governance. "There was a well-functioning structure: cheap Russian energy and advanced European technology. Now, after the war, we isolated ourselves from cheap energy, and there is no new strategy to remain competitive," he explained. Without decisive leadership, he warned, Europe risks further economic decline.
On the war in Ukraine, PM Orbán reiterated his long-standing position that the conflict is not simply about Ukraine, but about NATO expansion. He argued that isolating Russia politically and economically had backfired, pushing Moscow into a closer alliance with China. "We made a historical mistake. Russia will never come back to the West as it was—never again," he stated, warning that the war could turn into an "Afghanistan for the European Union" if a diplomatic resolution is not reached soon.
Despite these challenges, PM Orbán expressed confidence in Central Europe’s future. Unlike Western nations, where public sentiment is marked by pessimism, he noted that Central European societies remain optimistic. "When we ask Europeans about the future, Westerners say their children will have a worse life. Central Europeans say it will be better. That’s the difference," he concluded.