Viktor Orbán spoke to his party at the annual “Tusványos” festival in Transylvania, Romania, where some 1 million ethnic Hungarians reside. This was the Hungarian prime minister’s last annual address before parliamentary elections next spring. The Polish portal wPolityce provided some highlights. 

Regarding the 2026 elections, Orbán said: “If the elections were held today, we would win. But we still have many months of fighting ahead of us, and we must do everything we can to maximize this victory. Let us also remember that elections are free and open, and therein lies both the beauty and the danger of democracy: Victory is never guaranteed,” he stated.

The prime minister emphasized the struggle ahead, given how the opposition has united behind the Tisza leader Péter Magyar and is also receiving support, money, and influence from Brussels, various left-wing groups (including those linked to George Soros), and powerful media outlets. 

Despite their attempts to paint themselves as patriotic, Orbán said voters know who the real patriots are. “People know, however, that in reality we have always fought for them, that we are defenders of freedom of expression,” he said. 

Referring to the “citizens’ circles” established after his first and, to date, last election defeat in 2002, the Hungarian premier called on voters to create “digital civic circles” (for ordinary citizens) and a “citizen digital platform” (for “digital warriors”) to counter hate from the left, media lies, and smear campaigns. 

On artificial intelligence, Orbán believes the EU is so far behind that Hungary is turning to international technological networks to further develop skills in this critical sector.

Regarding the EU budget for 2028-2034, Hungary will not agree to it until it recovers its own money, i.e., half of the European funds it is owed that have been blocked. The prime minister also hopes to build a broader coalition capable of forcing changes to the budget and the proposed “conditionality” for all funds.

Calling the current budget a “war budget,” he said it slashes funds for agriculture and education and plans for large transfers to the arms industry to supply weapons to Ukraine. 

Reiterating his opposition to getting involved in the war in Ukraine, he told those present that Hungary had so far been able to avoid such a predicament, but the risk of escalating to WWIII was far from gone. 

Orbán also sharply criticized the European Union for its senseless pursuit of a trade war with the United States, although he spoke before a deal was struck between President Trump and von der Leyen in Scotland. 

Turning back to Brussels’ obsession with admitting Ukraine to the EU as fast as possible, he noted: “Only a madman would expel Great Britain from the EU while joyfully embracing Ukraine,” adding that “for the rulers in Brussels, obedience is paramount; the rest is irrelevant. And Ukraine will obey.”

This is also why, he stated, EU elites are pushing for Péter Magyar to be elected as prime minister next spring, as they see him as a pro-war politician who will fully align the country’s policies with the “mainstream.” 

“They think they’ll destroy us next year. But they’re wrong,” Orbán said with confidence. 

Laying out Fidesz’s priorities in terms of shaping Hungarian policy, Orbán first listed maintaining good relations with all major powers and not engaging in conflicts that don’t directly affect Hungary. He also emphasized pursuing trade relations with both the West and the East.

Second, he listed building self-defense capabilities. “The Hungarian army must be a precise army; it must always have a technological advantage over the enemy,” he said. 

Establishing economic self-sufficiency in key areas was third, followed by building a strong national culture.

In fifth place came implementing a long-term plan, which requires a stable government and policy.

Orbán also warned against the Islamization of the West, saying that the pace of this has become so swift that future generations of Hungarians will also have to defend the Western border. “We must be good parents. Because our enemies want Hungary to be small and poor,” he said, adding that, instead, “it will be magnificent, great, and rich.”