Orbán: We must restore moral equilibrium – Brussels must pay the price
The prime minister began by reaffirming Hungary's unwavering support for Poland in light of recent political persecution. 'In Hungary, we say once a friend, always a friend,' he stated. He denounced the crackdown on Poland's conservative leadership and the silence from EU institutions. 'What's going on in Poland is unacceptable—it's shameful that the European Union says nothing, even supports it,' he added.
PM Orbán introduced the concept of 'moral equilibrium,' arguing that Brussels must be held accountable for its double standards. 'I'm not a man of revenge… but what they have done to Poland and Hungary cannot be accepted. Brussels must pay the price,' he declared.
Reflecting on Poland's recent presidential election, PM Orbán described President Karol Nawrocki's victory as a turning point. 'It's essential… a chance to reshape Central European cooperation,' he said, praising past successes of the V4 alliance and expressing hope that it could regain strategic weight in EU decision-making. He accused Berlin and Brussels of trying to dismantle this regional influence, calling the move 'obvious and deliberate.'
The interview also touched on the EU's proposed multiannual financial framework. The prime minister rejected it outright, calling it a 'war budget.' He criticized the allocation of a quarter of its resources to Ukraine and warned against turning the EU into a military actor. 'I agree with spending on defense—but from national budgets, not the EU's common pot,' he said. He also emphasized that Hungary will not support any future budget unless Brussels unfreezes Hungarian funds. 'First, they have to give it back. Then we can negotiate,' he said.
Turning to Ukraine, PM Orbán reiterated that peace is only possible through a direct meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin. 'This war is not between Ukraine and Russia—it's between the West and Russia,' he noted. He also criticized President Zelenskyy's rejection of his earlier peace proposal, calling it 'a mistake.'
The prime minister warned as well about what he called the EU's 'biggest corruption scandal'—covert financing of media and NGOs. He announced plans for Hungarian legislation banning foreign funding of politically active NGOs, stating, 'If you're involved in politics, you should follow the same rules as parties.'
On migration, PM Orbán issued a stark warning: 'My generation stopped the Muslim influx on our southern border. The next generation will have to defend our western border.' He concluded by framing Hungary's political divide as one of 'patriots and sovereignists' versus 'internationalists and imperialists.'
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Orbán: If you have no persuasive power, then you have no victory either
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State Secretary meets with National Security Council official in Washington
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