‘Staying out’ is the phrase of the next four years

Mr Orbán said "I think the key phrase of the next four years will be 'staying out.' Can we stay out of the war, can we stay out of military aid shipments, can we stay out of financial aid?"

In continuation, the Prime Minister said if he looks around, he does not see anyone other than himself among political leaders who have a better chance of keeping Hungary out of the war. "This is why I agree to do the next four years, this is why I'm running in the elections," he laid down.

He repeated that there is a European war with Russia on one side and Ukraine and the states of the European Union supporting Ukraine on the other. Hungary, Slovakia and perhaps the Czech Republic a little say, however, that "this is not our war," he said, also stating that the Ukrainians and the European Union want to force the Hungarians to enter this war.

Mr Orbán said the prevailing position in Europe represented by the Germans is that Russia must be bled out economically, the war must be continued, money and weapons must be sent, and they also started talking about having to send soldiers as well. They are cooking the frog slowly. First weapons, then money, and then men. They are inuring the Western European public opinion to this, he stressed.

In answer to a question, he said he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about whether the crude oil Hungary imports is available and about how the Hungarians of Transcarpathia in Russian captivity are. They also spoke about the situation in the Gulf in two respects; first, the price of energy on the world market and second, whether there we should expect a wave of refugees.

In addition to the energy price problem, the other problem that may emerge is a direct migration threat. This is how the previous migration crisis began as well, that there was a civil war in Syria and people started heading for Turkey, he pointed out, adding that refugees can start also from Iran in the direction of Turkey, and from Turkey they can then proceed towards the Balkans and then to Hungary and Europe.

Referring to an interview Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently gave an Italian newspaper, the Prime Minister said today no one dares to claim that the Druzhba crude oil pipeline is inoperational, the Ukrainians themselves are saying that they are not restarting oil shipments for political reasons.

He said the Ukrainians' argument is that they would help Russia if they did. He pointed out that they wanted a change of governments in Hungary. They openly state that they would like Hungary to have a pro-Ukraine government. This is not in our best interest, he laid down, adding that following from this, this oil blockade must be broken.

He confirmed that until Hungary started receiving oil again, they would block the EU loan of EUR 90 billion intended for Ukraine. He also said the foreign ministers have been preparing a meeting with Zelenskyy for months, except they are not making any progress. The problem is not that they do not talk to each other, but that Ukraine has demands, and it is these demands they want to enforce in a meeting, he pointed out.

Already now, in the preparatory phase, we are able to tell that we cannot fulfil those demands; in fact, we reject them. We do not want to detach ourselves from cheap Russian oil and gas, the Ukrainians are demanding it in vain, we do not want to give them money either, and neither do we want to support their war - while this is what they want, Mr Orbán explained.

You can come to an agreement with the EU and also with them, "but then whoosh, it's all gone," he said, adding that it will be the same with the war. If we agree with Brussels on the issue of the war, the issue of Ukraine's European Union membership and finances, then we will find ourselves in exactly the same situation as where Western Europe is today, Mr Orbán laid down. He said in his mind the West is like a cut flower. At first, it is beautiful, all colours, except it has been severed from the ground from where it had previously gained all the energy necessary for beauty and attractiveness.

He highlighted that he was observing austerity measures in every Western European country, Hungary was the only country where there were no austerity measures. He recalled that they had doubled the tax benefit available in relation to children, mothers had been granted lifelong tax exemption, and the minimum wage had increased significantly. There are no such measures in the West because all the money goes to Ukraine. Ukraine is a bottomless pit, rather than strengthening us, it devours us, takes all our money away, and we Hungarians must stay out of this, he stated. He underlined that this was not only his personal, but also his strategic conviction.

He was asked about the threats the 75 locations presently guarded by the Hungarian Defence Forces were exposed to. Mr Orbán said "the Ukrainian is a nation, the Ukrainian government is a government and Zelenskyy is a president who is brave enough, when their interests call for it, to blow up the Russian-German gas pipeline." If they dared to do this to the Germans, why would they not dare to do the same to Hungary? he asked, stating in summary that "the Ukrainians are capable of anything," and in such a tense situation, Hungary, too, must be capable of anything.

The Prime Minister was further asked regarding the fact that his opponents accuse him of trying to boost war psychosis so that people vote for him out of fear. In response, Mr Orbán said he has a better opinion of the people than that, the Hungarians are a clever people, he does not believe that they would not see through it.

Mr Orbán took the view that as the Ukrainians want a change of governments in Hungary, they are looking for a means to achieve this, this is why they have not restarted the Druzhba oil pipeline "the twenty-third time round" as the chaotic situation caused with the oil blockade clearly does not favour the government. The Ukrainians are also colluding with the Hungarian opposition, he added.

He recalled that earlier, a Ukrainian drone had flown over Hungary, and at the time the government's experts saw this "as a test flight." Mr Orbán acknowledged that they had failed that test, but he said "I sent everyone to sit a repeat exam, and this time round, they would pass the test."

The Tisza Party receives significant funding from Ukraine, he stated. The Prime Minister referred to a classified written report, and suggested to "workers of the Hungarian media" that if they wanted to familiarise themselves with the content of the report, they should ask for its declassification. "If there is such a request, I see no obstacle, and there, they will find everything," he said, adding that the agency responsible for the classified information will decide on declassification.

In answer to the question of how much money is coming to the Tisza Party "from the direction of Ukraine," Mr Orbán said "a significant amount." He added that this was used for the building of IT and mobilisation systems. In response to the suggestion that according to the Hungarian laws in effect, this would qualify as a criminal offence if it proved true, the Prime Minister said he sincerely hopes that the relevant proceedings are under way.

Mr Orbán answered the question of whether this could mean that there would be an obstacle to the Tisza Party's continued running in the election in the negative. He said for him Hungary's sovereignty is the most important thing, and it hurts him to see that there are very few legal consequences in response to steps involving funds coming to Hungary from abroad in a way which evidently violates Hungary's sovereignty. "I've been working on this for years, that people should take this seriously, but for the time being, there are only partial results," he indicated.

He stressed that the government side did not support any foreign party or political forces, but had allies as European politics was organised on the basis of party alliances. "But there, there are no rolling dollars or euros," because that would violate sovereignty and would also be illegal, he said.

In answer to the question of whether they have turned to the European Union or NATO due to the violation of Hungarian sovereignty, the Prime Minister said NATO does not concern itself with political questions, while they would turn to Brussels in vain because their opponents are being financed from there as well. "You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to imagine how relieved people in both Brussels and Kiev would be if the patriotic government lost the elections in Hungary. This is what they're waiting for, this is what they're training for. They're supporting these actors with money and also politically. So, I can hardly turn for help to someone who is otherwise colluding with my opponents against me," he stated in summary.

He asked the Hungarians who have found themselves stranded abroad due to the war in Iran to remain patient and calm, promising them that as soon as possible, they will safely bring them back home. The Prime Minister said there are regions from which it is easier to bring the Hungarians stranded abroad back home from, and there are more difficult ones such as the Gulf countries because there, the situation changes very fast. He stressed that security was the number one consideration, they would not like to rescue anyone whilst there is the potential threat of them becoming victims of a terrorist attack, for instance, "the plane that they're on is shot down." "So, for the time being, I'd like to ask everyone to remain patient and calm, we're going to get them, but only if we can bring them back home safely," he said.

In answer to a question, he said the Hungarian government had not received any notification of the launch of the attack. He indicated that he had since spoken to the Russian president, the Azeri president, the Emir of Qatar and the first person of the Emirates, and it transpired from the answers he was given than neither they, nor the countries concerned in the region had been given any specific prior information.

He recalled that when he was in Washington a couple of weeks previously, he already saw that something was in the making, but as to precisely what and when, the US president did not divulge any information. He also said from this meeting he understood that in the US president's mind Iran qualifies as a war hotspot because it is from there that terrorist groups causing a very great deal of trouble in the Middle East are supported, and he therefore does not see himself as someone who started a war, but as someone who is eliminating a war hotspot.

If following the strikes the situation improves, then we will have taken a step towards peace; if the situation deteriorates, then that is not the case, he stated in summary.

He indicated that he told the US president to continue negotiating until the very last moment, and if possible, he should come to an agreement because the experience of earlier conflicts - Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq - was that the enormous US military superiority was all in vain, they found themselves stuck in these conflicts.

In answer to the question of whether he thinks it is conceivable that in coming weeks soldiers may also appear on the streets of cities, the Prime Minister said this is only on the cards if, due to the conflict in the Middle East, the threat of terrorism increases. He pointed out that if the Defence Council deemed that the threat of terrorism had increased, they would take steps because for them "the Hungarian people's security is the number one priority."

He observed that there were Iranian citizens in Hungary, including a great many students, while Hungary was a part of the Schengen Area, "people of Middle East origin, too, keep coming and going." We must keep our wits about us, and we must keep track of movements, he said, also indicating they have investigated financial links which they suspect may be connected to terrorist organisations. "The gentlemen are busy working, and we do have problems," he said in answer to the question of whether they found anything as a result of these financial investigations.

He also spoke about the fact that there had never been early elections in Hungary; we are the only country in the whole of Europe, including Germany, that is spoken about as a champion of stability.

In Hungary, stability, institutions and statehood have a self-defence function, he pointed out. The country can never be in opposition, the country is above us all; it does not matter whether you are in opposition or in government, the country is above you, he laid down. He highlighted that there were nations whose reflex was that if there was no stability, if there was no order, if there was no governance, if there was no clear direction, they would fall apart. He sees the Hungarians as such a nation, and therefore, we must respect our institutions, we must regard the elections and everything connected to them as important because these are the things that keep us together, he argued, adding that we are a people that is also formed by the state; we cannot do without a state. State institutions must be operated with integrity and fairness, elections must be organised in a fair manner, they must be conducted in fair circumstances, and the result must be accepted. This is not a party issue, but an existential one following from the realm of national instincts, he pointed out.

In answer to the question of whether - if winning the elections - he envisages any affairs on which he will be able to cooperate with Péter Magyar, he said he cooperates with everyone, there is no person he excludes from the possibility of cooperation as a matter of course. He may not be happy about it or proud of it, but this is of no significance, Mr Orbán stressed.

At the same time, Mr Orbán took the view that the government parties are leading ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections; the Prime Minister said he sees no other political community that is able to provide security for the country. "We are winning, why should we speculate about defeat?" Mr Orbán stated, adding that he does not believe polls claiming that they are not winning, and the question is not whether they believe them, but whether they are relevant.

He highlighted that on all overarching civilisational issues - such as the issues of migration, the war, the family, the workfare economy and the family-based society - Hungarian society and the government parties were on the same side. Additionally, he said in continuation, in the past four years, the government has accomplished the pledges it made in 2022; in fact, they have even introduced measures, including the fourteenth monthly pension and the fixed 3 per cent housing credit programme, which they did not specifically promise.

"I'm proud of the past four years, and I believe that based on these, we are winning," he stated.

He said the war, energy and Ukraine will be the most important issues of the next four years, and that Hungary will have to stay out of the war. "I see no other political community and any other strong leader in Hungary who could give the country security and could keep Hungary out of these conflicts. If I add all these things up, we must win, not lose," he laid down.

In answer to the question of whether he can envisage sitting with the politicians of the right-wing party Mi Hazánk in the government, he said "Why should I envisage bad things when I can also envisage good things?" He took the view that if "a normal person" thinks over the past, the present and the future, and takes stock of what the country needs, they cannot really come to any other conclusion than that the country needs security. "This is why we say that we're the safe choice. We just mustn't mess it up," he said, stressing that the government side must just "nicely see the campaign through."

He stressed that once the elections were over, together we would have to avert great threats. In the end, we are all Hungarians, he pointed out.

He also said that he is proud of his own political community which is unparallelled not only on account of its size and success, but also due to its internal cohesion, spirituality and culture. It is good to belong here. This is a good community, he laid down.

He predicted that at the end of the campaign, there would be a major mobilisation race and the government parties would have to take all their supporters to the polls in the traditional door-to-door, handshake-to-handshake mobilisation system. "If we take everyone to the polls, we'll be fine," he stated.

In answer to a question, Mr Orbán added: if they fail, he will be responsible for that.

The Prime Minister was also asked about several affairs from the recent past. In connection with the Szőlő utca correctional facility, he said in the first round of the investigations, the offenders slipped out of their hands, and then a year or two later, another investigation started, at the end of which they managed to catch them. They drew the conclusions, and implemented systemic reforms because the old system that correctional facilities formed part of the social sphere "didn't work." Therefore, they transferred these facilities to the prison system because while these are young people, they are offenders nonetheless, he explained.

Regarding the issue of the Samsung plant in Göd, he confirmed that no problem of any kind had emerged outside the plant premises, while whenever any complaints were made by any worker or supplier from within the plant, the authorities investigated them in every instance. In his view, the authorities proceeded appropriately.

In Hungary, we have the most stringent environmental regulations in effect because in Hungary the Hungarian people's health and security are the number one priority, everything else only takes second place, he stressed, adding that this was not discussed at cabinet meetings because they received no report of any kind they would have been required to investigate.

The Prime Minister was asked regarding the fact that the attorney general turned to the Public Prosecutor's Office in connection with Minister for Construction and Transport János Lázár who said he made arrangements, at the request of former Justice Minister Judit Varga, for Péter Magyar to receive a salary of three million forints as this is corruption.

Mr Orbán said in response that this did not occur to him because the minister did not give money or create a job, but appointed someone to the head of an existing organisation; things like that do happen. He added: in this instance, he would investigate whether the person concerned had the skills and education necessary for the given position, and while it is not nice for anyone to receive any advantage on account of their connections, it does not transcend the boundaries of legality.

He also spoke about petrol prices; before the war, it was around 480 forints, while diesel cost 600 forints on the day of the interview. Peace is the solution to everything, including high energy prices, he laid down.

He also responded to the fact that the president of the Tisza Party demanded the introduction of a price cap on petrol. Mr Orbán said the price of fuel is high, in addition to the war, because the Ukrainians are blocking Hungary from accessing cheap raw materials. This policy is being supported by Péter Magyar and his people, meaning that the very person proposes lower prices who has caused higher prices with his policy in the first place, he pointed out.

He said he sees the introduction of the price cap as the very last resort because then importers stop importing fuel. At the same time, there is a price level in his head where he believes that a situation could emerge that would be difficult to manage, and should the need emerge that they should protect the Hungarian people this way, they would introduce fixed maximum prices.

In answer to a question about a debate for candidates for prime minister, he confirmed what he had said earlier: he only debates with sovereign people, "the president of the Tisza Party is not a sovereign person, he is in the hands of the Ukrainians and the Brusselites, we don't debate with a man like that."