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At the venue of the Kötcse meeting organised by the Foundation for a Civic Hungary every year, Mr Orbán said a new world economy has recently come into being, to which we must adapt, and for this we need a new economic policy. At the meeting, he will speak about what kind of an economic policy this should be, the Prime Minister said, informing members of the press.
“The core and essence” of this economic policy is economic neutrality because he is convinced that in Hungary, economic neutrality will bring about success, he said.
This year, Hungary’s economic growth is in Europe’s top third, Mr Orbán stated in answer to a question, adding that he is not satisfied with this, he will only be satisfied when Hungary’s growth is in the number one spot. They would like to achieve a growth between three to five per cent, and this will not be impossible next year, he said.
He also spoke about the fact that the airport represented the re-acquisition of a state asset. At the same time, the acquisition of Vodafone was an historic step in order for Hungary to have a major infocommunications and telecommunications company of international repute in Hungarian hands.
“These are all important and necessary steps,” he observed.
Mr Orbán pointed out that “our present state clearly shows” that we understood in good time that instead of supporting the development of blocs, good relations with all important players of a united world economy can provide a solution for the Hungarian economy.
Regarding the dispute between the central bank and the government, he said there will always be debates about the economy because there are some who envisage a good economy one way, while others another. However, there should be no dispute between the central bank and the government.
“If there is a dispute, there are reasons for it, Balázs Orbán [the Prime Minister’s political director] spoke about this clearly,” he said in reference to an earlier statement by the political director about the dispute of a personal nature between the central bank governor and the minister responsible for the oversight of the economy.
In answer to a question about the state of Hungarian health care, he said today there are 8,000 more physicians in the system than there were in 2010. Salaries have been raised and the number of air-conditioned units increases every year.
“Meaning that also in health care, we are taking a step forward every year,” but “naturally, we have not yet accomplished the job in hand,” he added.
Regarding the state of Fidesz and the civic Right, Mr Orbán recalled that in the EP elections Fidesz had received 45 per cent of the votes which was the best European result, and with this they were at the top of the list. “We are Europe’s strongest political organisation,” he said, adding that the strongest party after them obtained just 30 per cent of the votes. “Where do I have to sign for this for 2026?” he asked, thanking young people for their support.
In answer to the question of whether he thought it was ethical that the state was buying office buildings worth more than HUF 500 billion from a business associated with his son-in-law, the Prime Minister said “observing the rules is ethical, all the rules.”
Answering a question about EU funds, Mr Orbán said “there is 12 billion on our account.” We keep saying that there are no EU funds, “but of course there are,” he added. The EUR 12 billion is awaiting to be used in the Hungarian economy.
“At the same time, I’m waiting for Hungarian businesses to implement the subject-matters of the calls for proposals, for the budget to disburse the funds to them and for us to receive those funds in the form of post-financing. So, today the situation is not that there is no money; the money is there, except we’re unable to use it fast enough,” he added. He observed that Hungary was in first or second place out of 27 countries as regards the fastest users of the EU’s seven-year budget. “So, I would even be cautious with any criticism,” Mr Orbán said, observing that the EUR 12 billion will last for many long years.
Regarding his leaked peace plan, Mr Orbán said if the EU had accepted any element of the proposal back then, today we would have far fewer problems.
“And the peace mission is not over yet. The whole summer I worked on it, we did an international job, there will be spectacular initiatives which will emerge as early as in September,” he said.
The Prime Minister believes that the essence of foreign policy lies in the building of friendships and alliances. The fact that two countries are not friendly with each other does not rule out Hungary maintaining good relations with both. Hungary has a vested interest in the world economy not splitting into blocs again, the Prime Minister highlighted.
Hungary is able to maintain good relations with the Americans, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Arabs and the European Union all at once. We are a sovereign country, Mr Orbán stressed.
Regarding news reports that a company associated with the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency’s (HEPA) office in Moscow exported mobile telephones to Russia, evading the sanctions, the Prime Minister said Hungary’s national security services had not reported any problem in this regard.
In answer to a question about the state of railways and hospitals, Mr Orbán said their most efficient minister is responsible for transport – the minister who introduced the country pass – while the state secretary for health care was earlier a hospital director himself.
In answer to the question of whether he will engage in a debate with Péter Magyar in Strasbourg, Mr Orbán said he is not a member of the European Parliament, but will meet his obligations arising from the country’s rotating EU presidency, and will be at the disposal of all members of the European Parliament.
The speech of the Prime Minister talking to members of the press was disturbed by a few demonstrators who were told by journalists to remain quiet so that Mr Orbán can answer their questions.
