logo
More than 2 million have returned questionnaires on Ukraine's accession to EU

More than 2 million have returned questionnaires on Ukraine's accession to EU

Budapest Times17-06-2025
"I see the numbers every day, the number of responses being returned, and we're over 2 million," PM Orbán said in an interview with public broadcaster Kossuth Radio.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that more than 2 million people have already returned the questionnaires on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
'I see the numbers every day, the number of responses being returned, and we're over 2 million,' PM Orbán said in an interview with public broadcaster Kossuth Radio .
PM Orbán said this was a 'fantastic success', adding that he 'can't recall when we last had a National Consultation or a vote in which this many people participated'.
The prime minister encouraged the public to use the eight days left of the government's Vote 2025 initiative to read a recent interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and 'acknowledge the domestic political debate in connection with it'.
'There are pro-Ukrainian and pro-Hungarian forces, the line of division is completely clear, and it's very important … for every Hungarian citizen to express their opinion on this issue,' PM Orbán added.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Orbán: Europe has fallen asleep, we need to talk to Russia as soon as possible
Orbán: Europe has fallen asleep, we need to talk to Russia as soon as possible

Budapest Times

time13 hours ago

  • Budapest Times

Orbán: Europe has fallen asleep, we need to talk to Russia as soon as possible

'Europe has fallen asleep,' the prime minister said, emphasizing that the French President and German Chancellor should already have met with President Vladimir Putin to seek an end to the war in Ukraine. 'This war is taking place in Europe, not overseas. It is in our interest to bring it to an end.' According to Prime Minister Orbán, only a direct and high-level dialogue can lead to a ceasefire: 'The Trump-Putin meeting is good news, because without them there will be no ceasefire. But it should not be America alone. Europe must act as well.' The interview came at the end of a politically and economically dense week. The prime minister introduced the details of the Home Start housing loan program, launching in September, which he framed as a strategic tool to reverse Hungary's demographic decline and strengthen families. 'In the West, they want to solve the problem with migration. We don't like that.' Listing the problems Western cities are facing due to this approach, PM Orbán said, migration 'changes cities—more foreigners than local children in the schools, terrorism risks, declining public safety.' 'We will not solve our demographic issues with migration—we will support (Hungarian) families,' he stressed. The newly introduced measures offer significant financial advantages. The tax-free status of maternity and childcare allowances now brings a net gain of up to HUF 78,000 per month for those making an average income. The updated housing loan, with a fixed 3 percent interest rate, can save up to HUF 150,000 monthly on a HUF 50 million loan. 'There is no exchange rate risk, no interest rate risk. It's in forints,' Prime Minister Orbán noted. He added that young people now renting can find themselves paying less in monthly installments than they would for rent. 'The Hungarian dream is to own a home,' not a monthly rental. Responding to criticism that the new scheme will increase housing prices, the prime minister dismissed such concerns as misinformed. 'They haven't read the decree. Or they could just call Miklós Panyi,' he remarked, calling the attacks from the Tisza Party politically motivated and based on falsehoods. 'Those who attack this program have never built anything like it. We won't be buying luxury apartments. There's a cap on price per square meter. This is for people who don't own property.' Turning again to the war, Prime Minister Orbán reiterated his belief that Hungary must continue pushing for peace. 'I already wanted to launch these economic programs in March, but we had to add safeguards. Still, we cannot wait for the war to end. We must act now.' In closing, the prime minister touched on international disinformation campaigns, including one orchestrated against Donald Trump. 'It's a scandal—state organs were used to spread fake news. And similar things are being done against Hungary. They want a government here that Brussels likes, not one the people chose. But there are serious ways to resist.'

Government Commissioner Palkovics: Current AI structures unlikely to lead to consciousness
Government Commissioner Palkovics: Current AI structures unlikely to lead to consciousness

Budapest Times

time13 hours ago

  • Budapest Times

Government Commissioner Palkovics: Current AI structures unlikely to lead to consciousness

'Humanity does not accidentally create adversaries—we build tools to help us,' the government commissioner said. László Palkovics, Government Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence, stated that artificial intelligence in its current form is unlikely to become self-aware. Speaking on the latest episode of the Bold Truth About Hungary podcast hosted by State Secretary Zoltán Kovács, he emphasized that conscious AI would require deliberate intent. 'Why would humanity want to create an enemy? We already have enough,' he said. Palkovics argued that concerns over conscious AI are better suited for philosophical discussion than scientific debate. 'These are interesting fears, good for conversations—but mostly with philosophers or theologians, not mathematicians or engineers,' he added. Discussing the foundations of AI development, he outlined four critical factors: access to data, computational power, a suitable legal and financial environment, and intent paired with talent. 'Hungary possesses all four,' he said, pointing to structured national data sets in agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, and healthcare, as well as the Central Statistical Office's archives. He noted that Hungary already operates several smaller supercomputers, including the Komondor system in Debrecen, and announced plans for a procurement process to acquire a 20-petaflop machine named Levente. The country's energy mix, he added, supports the operational demands of such systems, including their need for continuous and increasingly renewable energy. Addressing calls for Hungarian-made, Hungarian-language AI models, Palkovics acknowledged their limitations compared to global systems but stressed their utility in domain-specific applications. 'The value lies in the data we train them on—and we have a lot of usable, well-structured data,' he said. He also defended Hungary's Digital Citizenship Program, rejecting fears of surveillance. 'It is a service that simplifies and improves state operations while making citizens' lives more convenient,' he stated. Reflecting on his previous cabinet role, Palkovics concluded that the government now recognizes the untapped potential of existing national data for policy preparation and public service modernization.

Government Info: Home Start ushers in new era for young homeowners, as government moves to shield jobs and industry
Government Info: Home Start ushers in new era for young homeowners, as government moves to shield jobs and industry

Budapest Times

time4 days ago

  • Budapest Times

Government Info: Home Start ushers in new era for young homeowners, as government moves to shield jobs and industry

Minister Gergely Gulyás called Hungary's new Otthon Start program the most significant homeownership initiative since the regime change, highlighting its economic and social impact at Tuesday's government press briefing. Joined by State Secretary Miklós Panyi and Spokesperson Eszter Vitályos, Gulyás said the scheme reflects a long-term commitment to supporting young people through stable housing, while responding to external economic threats with a parallel job and industry protection plan. The program, launching 1 September, offers first-time buyers up to HUF 50 million in loans at a fixed 3 percent interest rate over 25 years, with just 10 percent self-financing required. Eligible properties must fall under a HUF 100 million cap for flats or HUF 150 million for houses, and meet a price ceiling of HUF 1.5 million per square metre. 'Even with average wages and little savings, young people can now take the first step toward owning a home,' Gulyás said. 'We are not considering a rental scheme—this is about long-term stability through ownership.' More than 100,000 properties currently meet the program's criteria, with additional listings expected as previously withheld homes re-enter the market. Developers will be incentivized: housing projects with at least 250 units—70 percent of which comply with price limits—may qualify as strategic investments. The goal is to initiate 20,000–25,000 new housing projects that otherwise would not launch. According to Gulyás and Panyi, the program could lead to the construction of 50,000 new apartments and thousands of family homes over five years, generating up to HUF 5,000 billion in investment and creating jobs across the construction sector. A dedicated Program Office, digital tools, and close coordination with banks will support rollout. In parallel, Gulyás said the government is preparing a job and industry protection action plan following consultations with major companies affected by the EU-US trade deal. He criticized the agreement as harmful and unrealistic, citing concerns from Hungarian and regional stakeholders. Turning to foreign policy, Gulyás warned of growing instability in the Balkans, calling the conviction of Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik a destabilizing act. 'The Balkans won't find stability through Western intervention—but through its absence,' he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store