Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary's performance in the past 12 years, "and especially last year's economic output", are proof that "the Hungarian model remains effective even in times of the greatest challenges".
Speaking at the 23rd summit of the Hungarian Business Leaders Forum, the foreign minister said the government applied “specifically Hungarian solutions” to resolving problems. He said that while this approach had been “sharply criticised both within Hungary and from abroad”, its solutions “have invariably proved successful”. Concerning the challenges the government has faced since 2010, Minister Szijjártó said its response to the fallout of the 2008-2009 crisis had been to cut taxes, launch a broad program to promote investments, and introduce its policy of opening to the East. Addressing the economic impact of the pandemic, he said the opposition had advocated “financing unemployment” by providing benefits using foreign loans. Conversely, the government used its resources to combat unemployment and “launched the greatest investment promotion programme of all times”. He said if the ruling parties won the upcoming election, the government would carry on cutting taxes and red tape while maintaining its policy of attracting foreign investment to Hungary.
Photo credit: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter