I will secure everything that is important for the Hungarian people every time 

Hungary remains an interesting, strong, highly committed, exciting and edifying country, while its prime minister is the longest-serving prime minister who has experience to share with the world, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview published on the Internet portal of the weekly Mandiner.

In the interview published on Sunday – which he gave on board a plane, returning from Dubai – the Prime Minister said the Hungarians already know that the future is not where they live, but somewhere else. “And we must now adjust Hungary to this future, we cannot remain within the European Union’s framework system alone. Hungary is ready for this, is open, has arrived, is here,” he stated.

He said what is as yet less evident in Hungary – namely that everything is changing – is much more obvious in America. 

“We Hungarians are still inside European history which we believe to be the mainstream of world history. Back then, Europe was the world’s largest economy; today, it’s only the third largest,” he said, adding that we must slowly realise that this era is over, and regrettably, Europe is in a downward phase. 

“It has no gumption, it is lacking in vitality. It would be in urgent need of new nutrients which would help regrow its muscles, refresh its spirit,” the Prime Minister said. 

He added that in the meantime, regions previously ranked far behind Europe were rising. The future lies in the Arab region, China or Central Asia, not in the European Union, he stated. 

Regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war, Mr Orbán said US President Donald Trump will be able to conclude a peace agreement within a foreseeable time. Mr Trump took the decisive step, he established contact with the Russian President, and a major meeting is under organisation, he observed. 

At the same time, he added, this will reveal that it will not be enough to agree solely on the issue of the war in Ukraine, the subject-matter of the negotiations will have to extend to the world order as a whole. This includes Russia’s place in the world economy, in the world’s energy system, in the world’s military and security architecture, in the European security architecture, and there is also the issue of Ukraine, he listed. This is a large enough package to reach a meaningful agreement, he said. 

Mr Orbán added that in his opinion, this would take place, except the Europeans had missed the bus again. 

According to the Prime Minister, “European leaders are in a vice because on the one hand, the key actor of transatlantic cooperation, the United States is at the vanguard of changing the set of values and thinking, while the other jaw of the vice is the people themselves who agree with that.” 

In answer to the question of whether “there will be room for the European interests in the Russo-Ukraine peace deal,” the Prime Minister said no. 

“No because no one will fight for us. No one else will stand up for a community that doesn’t stand up for itself, that doesn’t fight for itself. If Western European leaders fail to understand what’s happening, if they don’t take part in it, they will be left out of the settlement. However, if they’re left out, there will be no one to represent their interests,” he said. 

He added that this was a world of realpolitik, not a world of “moralising essayists,” there are tough facts and interests here. 

“If you don’t fight for your people, for your country, you’re simply left out of everything. What Europe is doing right now is risking being left out of all important decisions determining our future,” Mr Orbán pointed out. 

He added that “we Hungarians will be there, in keeping with our own weight. Europe may be left out, but Hungary will always be there, will maintain relations, and I will secure everything that is important for the Hungarian people every time,” the Prime Minister stressed. 

In the interview, he also spoke about his meeting with co-chairwoman of the party Alternative for Germany (AfD) Alice Weidel. The prime Minister said he had an extremely interesting meeting with the party co-chairwoman, “I hadn’t had such a positive experience for a long time.” 

“What we call the leader type in Hungary is slowly disappearing from the European palette. And now along came a lady who is tougher and more straightforward than the European mainstream that has turned soft; there is will and imagination in what she says. What’s more, creativity, optimism and strength,” the Prime Minister said.