The European Union is engaged in an economic cold war that will see the European economy die, but not before it falls apart due to Brussels’ commitment to mass immigration, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has claimed in a new interview.
Orbán emphasized his government’s focus on economic neutrality and its need to address both foreign and domestic challenges on Friday in an interview on Kossuth Radio’s ‘Good Morning, Hungary!’
Following a key government meeting, Orbán laid out several priorities, ranging from economic policy to migration and national security.
The Hungarian leader explained that the government’s strategy of economic neutrality remains central to Hungary’s future. “If we do it right… we can increase the performance of the economy by between 3 and 6 percent, which means an increase in wages,” he stated, adding that the policy is designed to protect Hungary’s interests amid a challenging global trade environment.
He warned that the European Union is engaged in an “economic cold war” which threatens not only Hungary but Europe as a whole. According to Orbán, “If world trade is paralyzed, it becomes more difficult to sell products, which is also an issue related to the everyday living standards of families.”
While highlighting Hungary’s strong economic growth, Orbán pointed out that sectors like tourism have thrived, while the food industry is in “good shape.” However, he acknowledged that the automotive industry is facing difficulties, but remained optimistic that this would improve soon. Reflecting on Hungary’s economic progress since 2010, Orbán noted that “today everyone has a job, and in fact, there are more jobs today than there are Hungarian people who can and want to work.”
Regarding the country’s ongoing battle with high inflation, the prime minister took pride in the government’s efforts, saying, “We were able to protect people from having prices increase at a high rate.” He stressed the importance of maintaining wage growth to help citizens cope with inflation and revealed the government’s ambition to raise the average monthly wage to 1 million forints (€2,490) within two or three years.
On the issue of migration, Orbán once again took a hardline stance, warning that unchecked migration could lead to the collapse of the European Union. “The European economy will die, but before that, it will fall apart due to migration,” he said, reinforcing his government’s commitment to strict border control and challenging EU migration policies.
He also referenced recent political shifts in Europe, such as the success of the Freedom Party in Austria and the rise of Germany’s Alternative for Germany as signs of growing discontent with the EU’s handling of migration.
Budapest has been at loggerheads with Brussels for some time over immigration controls with the European Commission recently launching infringement proceedings against the Hungarian government for its refusal to comply with the EU’s controversial migration pact which compels member states to receive migrant quotas or face financial penalties. The Orbán administration responded in kind by threatening to bus illegal migrants from its Serbian border directly to Brussels.
Touching on the security situation, Orbán expressed concern about global instability, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and its impact on Hungary. “What happens there can also affect us from a security point of view,” he noted, explaining that the national security cabinet had been convened to address these concerns.
Finally, Orbán underscored the importance of supporting families, declaring, “If there is a child, then there is a future.” He promised to double tax allowances for families with children next year, as part of broader efforts to ensure Hungary’s demographic sustainability and improve living standards.
