Orbán: My home is my castle – that is freedom, that is security
Opening the interview, PM Orbán addressed the new Home Start Program, which offers a 3 percent fixed-rate housing loan for first-time homebuyers. He framed the initiative as a national response to global uncertainty. 'There's upheaval in the world—from Covid to war to technological change—and in such times, the greatest anchor in life is a home, the place where your family lives,' he said.
Contrasting European housing philosophies, he said Hungarians view property differently. 'In some countries, renting is enough. But Hungarians think a home should be one's own. My home is my castle. That is freedom, that is security,' the prime minister explained.
He characterized homeownership as a foundation for family life and personal dignity: 'You're not a 'vagrant' if you own a home.'
The conversation then turned to Europe's position on the global stage, with PM Orbán launching a scathing critique of the European Commission's recent tariff agreement with the United States. He said the Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, made unauthorized commitments that fall outside its jurisdiction, such as promises to increase EU energy imports from the U.S. and invest hundreds of billions of euros overseas.
'Brussels doesn't buy a single cubic meter of gas, member states do,' he stressed. 'I did not authorize her to make such a deal, and I don't believe other prime ministers did either.' He added that the agreement includes secret clauses, including financial obligations for Ukraine's armament, without EU-wide consent: 'Nobody asked me if we want that.'
Calling the deal 'an economic own goal,' PM Orbán highlighted the potential impact on Hungarian exports. He estimated that the new 15 percent U.S. tariff could affect around $11 billion worth of goods flowing from Hungary to the U.S., either directly or indirectly, amounting to $1.5 billion in losses.
In response, the government is developing two action plans: one to protect industrial production and another to secure jobs. 'We must prevent companies in Hungary from reacting with layoffs or closures. If they do, we must be ready to step in immediately,' he said. Ministers Péter Szijjártó and Márton Nagy have been authorized to begin talks with major exporters and the Chamber of Commerce to coordinate next steps, the prime minister added.
While the interviewer noted how EU leaders were recently snubbed in China, PM Orbán attributed such diplomatic embarrassments to European weakness. 'We're loud, we lecture others, but when it comes to negotiations, we show no strength or skill. It's the worst possible combination,' he remarked.
Concluding the interview, Prime Minister Orbán expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current EU leadership. 'This is a fiasco. They should pack up, thank everyone for the trust, and go home.'
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