Richárd Pocsaji: Prime Minister, thank you very much for the opportunity to interview you. You’ve come to Gyula from Lőkösháza. A very significant railway development project has been completed in Lőkösháza, namely the upgrade of the Békéscsaba–Lőkösháza line. How would you summarise the essence of this project?
We came here because previously decided projects have reached the implementation phase. From a governmental point of view, in general Békés County is a very difficult place. It’s easy to make progress somewhere that’s in the middle of the country. Of course, Békés used to be in the centre of the country, but because of Trianon it ended up on the edge. And when I rank the most difficult areas of the country to implement development, I consistently see regions that are located somewhere near the border. This is because they’ve been separated from their natural habitat, and it’s very difficult to restore the old vitality and vibrancy that characterised these areas. Békés, Békés County, was a region of fantastic power for Hungary; but now it’s been pushed to the edge. Here it’s very difficult to revive the blood circulation; after all, there’s been an amputation, and those at the end of the line are usually the last to be served. And the people of Békés were right, because for quite some time they’d been demanding and saying that now it was their turn. It was great that Kecskemét had been developed, Szolnok was perhaps on its feet, Nyíregyháza was thriving, Debrecen had undergone a dimensional shift, but it was time for something to happen in Békés too. But when we sat down several years ago to review this story, to see how we could expand the opportunities and improve the quality of life in Békés, it turned out that in order to have investment, jobs, and development here, first we needed roads: we needed to be able to get here. In terms of whether it would ever be connected to the country’s motorway network, Békéscsaba was the city in the most hopeless situation. Well, we succeeded, because the M44 is now a reality, a historic achievement. I don’t think the people of Békés ever believed it would happen – or rather, they thought it would never be completed...
A long time…
…despite the promises made by politicians. I saw disbelief in their eyes. Well, we have the road, but we don’t have the land, so we need to build an industrial park, because investment and development will come to the industrial park. That’s not a simple thing: we need to connect it to public utilities, we need to designate it, and if it’s agricultural land, we need to reclassify it. And then we’re still not done, because we need labour. Labour can only be created in conjunction with vocational training. So, transportation, industrial park, vocational training centre – and then the investment can come. This is how we got to the point where I can say today that investments have been made in Békés County that make Békéscsaba ready to receive even the most modern investments in the world. This is beginning now. So I think the doors are now opening, the horizon is now widening, prospects are now rising, and in the coming years there will be large-scale development here, as we now have the connection to the M44. It’s in the planning stage, and within a year or two you’ll see the four-lane road link between Békéscsaba and Debrecen. We’ve now completed the new track on the Lőkösháza–Békéscsaba section, where you’ll now be able to travel at 160 kilometers per hour; and then we’ll continue towards Szolnok. The people of Szeged have also started, which is in the neighbouring county, but still part of the same region. The Belgrade–Budapest railway line may also be handed over this year, and a whole new industrial era will begin in Debrecen. So it now seems that the whole region shouldn’t be viewed separately, in pieces: the whole new region looks like a Győr–Veszprém–Székesfehérvár triangle in Transdanubia. So we’re not talking about individual cities or small regions, but about major interconnected, industrial, research, scientific, specialist, commercial, and development centres. And Békés County has become part of this. Well, that’s our story. I apologise for the lengthy explanation, but this isn’t simply an investment – it’s a change in the situation and way of life in Békés County. The future that Békés County now faces is completely different from the one it faced a year or two ago.
How much of an impact on this development will be felt after Friday’s announcement that Singapore-based Vulcan Shield Global will create 2,500 new jobs in Békéscsaba? There’s never been an announcement of such a large job-creating investment – not only in Békéscsaba, but in Békés County as a whole.
The people of Békés are struggling with the fact that there are many talented children. In Budapest, too, when I look at my colleagues, I find quite a few of them are from Békés. When I look at the Hungarian intellectual scene, there are many people from Békés. So it’s clear that talented children and talented young people are born here, and there are probably good schools too – because these talented young people are studying somewhere, and then they come to Pest. And the people of Békés complain that fewer and fewer are staying, that they’re increasingly unable to retain people. Because if there are no high-quality jobs people leave and look elsewhere. And it’s not just about money, but jobs that not only provide a livelihood, but also make you feel that you’re part of something serious, that you’re working for a real company. If there are no such companies, if you feel that your workplace belongs to the world of run-down outfits rather than among world-class companies that can take you along with them, then you leave and find somewhere else. So I believe that not only will the heartache of the people of Békés County be alleviated, but also their strategic concerns. This is because we’re talking about one of the most modern companies in the world – not just any company, but one that’s not only providing 2,500 jobs and 280 billion forints, but also manufacturing products linked to the world’s most advanced technology. So Békés County isn’t connecting to Hungarian industry, but to world-class international industry. And since Gyula already has a bit of aviation industry – namely Airbus – we’ll move ahead on that: in Békéscsaba this morning we agreed with the Mayor that we’ll turn Békéscsaba airfield into a fully-fledged airport. Now, here in Gyula, we’ve agreed with the Mayor that we’ll create new industrial areas for new investments. So I feel that the next five to ten years will be a period of great growth for Békés County.
You’ve already mentioned this, of course, but during your visit in the spring you also said that an important goal is to create an economic triangle between Debrecen, Nagyszalonta/Salonta and Békéscsaba. If I understand correctly, this is moving in the right direction...
We’re doing it. The Romanians are also working hard on their side. I feel that the two regions on either side of the border can be connected; these are Hungarian regions after all, we’ll be able to understand each other, and we know how to make the gears mesh.
You’ve mentioned what you discussed with the Mayor of Gyula in Békéscsaba today. You met with Dr. Árpád Takács, the Chief County Officer, and Péter Szarvas, the Mayor. Is there anything else you can tell us about these meetings?
There are strong people here. This is both a good thing and a problem, because strong people always have their own ideas. I think this is right, but in the case of a government, it always poses a challenge. On the other hand, it’s good because nothing can be seen clearly from Budapest – or at least nothing can be seen as clearly from Budapest as it can be seen from here, on the ground. To see something clearly you need to be well prepared, which means you need strong characters. Békés County is well run, so the mayor here in Gyula is a serious man; Békéscsaba is led by an experienced old fox; and the Chief County Officer is also a tough guy. So I think that the team currently negotiating development issues with the Government is a very strong one. The main topics were a vocational training centre in Békéscsaba, which needs to be resolved, the airport, which I may have already mentioned, and the creation of new industrial parks. Here in Gyula a change of scale is needed. Schengen has disappeared, or rather the Schengen zone has expanded, there are no longer any such borders, and now it’s possible to move, travel and trade more freely. This has opened up great opportunities for Gyula – primarily in tourism, which is already at the forefront, and one of Hungary’s flagships. And there are development plans here – especially plans for developing spas. It’s true that they’ll cost around 5–6 billion forints, but we’ve been able to discuss these seriously. Minister János Lázár, who’s responsible for construction and investment, is here with me, and an agreement is taking shape.
Many people in Békés are concerned about the future of the Wenckheim Palace in Szabadkígyós. Péter Márki-Zay and the local government of Hódmezővásárhely have once again registered their interest in the castle, while leaders in Békés County have also indicated that they’d like the palace to remain in the hands of Békés County as part of the region’s heritage. How do you think this issue can be resolved satisfactorily?
The locals have priority here. Period. It’s not that complicated.
Okay. There will be a general election next spring. Is it already known who the Fidesz candidates will be, can we talk about specific names in relation to Békés County?
Our candidates are generally predictable: usually, the constituency leaders will be running. We have proven fighters. Naturally where a representative has run his or her course, we’ll have to bring in new young fighters, but we’re going into this with a proven team. We feel that we can take stock of the past four years, so the representatives of Békés, the representatives of Békés County, are right to think that some things have happened that wouldn’t have happened without them. What’s more, I can see that they’re not tired – so they’re fresh, they have drive and ambition, they want to get things done, and they have serious plans. And I’m going home from here with a bundle of papers, all of which are their plans. I feel that if the county wants to develop, it’s worth putting the ambitious Fidesz representatives in position.
At home, I’ve been told to ask you if we’ll see you at the Csaba Sausage Festival this year. In previous years, you appeared there several times. And do you often eat Csaba sausage?
Well, I haven’t been seen there in a long time, but looking at me you can see that I eat sausage, so there’s no problem with that: the bulking mechanism is working. And the thing is, if you don’t have sausage and bacon at home, you don’t feel safe – at least that’s how it was when I grew up. So I always have some. I have friends here who give it to me as a gift. And besides, I stay in practice, so I slaughter a pig myself at home every year.
Thank you very much for the interview.
Thank you too.