Orbán: Campaign or not, we must do well in Brussels

“We must defend the national interests of Hungary” – declared Orbán in his video message sent to the state news agency, MTI on Wednesday.

The prime minister stated that we must not allow ourselves to be dragged into a war, and we must say “no” to suggestions which would result in an aerial warfare with Russia. The suggestions which are aiming to extend the sanctions against Russia to the energy sectors must be prevented, as they would put Hungary in a difficult, potentially even impossible situation.

Viktor Orbán also mentioned that there are only 11 days left until the parliamentary elections, which are not just important, but are of crucial importance for all of us.

“All that Hungary has been able to accomplish in the last 12 years must be defended. At times like these, one must focus on the elections with every nerve, every second. However, this is also a time to go to Brussels for two days, as there will be a NATO and EU summit, where the interests of Hungary must be defended against the proposals which will be presented. Even though there is a campaign going on at home, it is in Brussels that we must do well in the next two days”

- said the prime minister.

Part of “doing well” in Brussels most likely has to do with the news which emerged on Tuesday, that Hungary would – after all – like to request the EU appropriations package it rejected last year. The original amount of the recovery fund for Hungary would have been 5800 billion forints – 43 percent of which would have been a subsidy, and 57 percent would have been a soft loan. The Hungarian government hasn’t even received permission from the EC for accessing these subsidies, because The Commission has not approved the recovery plan yet. The reason for this is that reform plans which would make fighting corruption more effective are not included in it.

According to information acquired by 444, the government would now be willing to implement the EC’s proposals listed in the country-specific recommendations. Among others,

the Hungarian government offered to follow the Estonian example and establish a new body investigating corruption, which would annually report to the Attorney General, who would in turn inform the MPs at an annual parliamentary hearing.