Orbán said that in spite of the crisis, Hungarian investment capital abroad had been “turbo-charged”, writes Daily News Hungary
“Only this way can Hungarian economy be kept in balance,” he said, noting new foreign investments by oil and gas company MOL and OTP Bank among others. Orbán told supporters that during the crisis, too, Hungary had eschewed “the recipes of Brussels” in favour of its “own path”. Referring to central bank governor György Matolcsy and finance minister Mihály Varga, he said Hungary had adopted “the Matolcsy-Varga cure” for relaunching the economy. Rather than stepping on the brakes, economic policy overtook in a corner, he said.
The Gyurcsány-Bajnai government, he added, had done the opposite to the current government in a crisis, abolishing the 13-month pension and home-building schemes, as well as the family tax credit, among others, while introducing a fee for visiting the GP and hospitals. Meanwhile, surveying foreign policy, the prime minister noted that Hungary was “surrounded by unstable regions”, including the Western Balkans.
Orbán said Hungary was now stronger and would not sit on the side-lines while “the great powers” enacted “bad policies” and “caused damage” to its neighbouring region
Orbán said Hungary had an interest in “peace, economic development, and in the region becoming a part of the EU”.
On the subject of the Russia-Ukraine standoff, Orbán said that given Hungary’s size, as well as its military and economic strength, its influence on relations between the EU, the West and Russia was limited, but the government had made clear that it considered the EU’s strategy to be “flawed” and sanctions against Russia “a dead-end”. Europe would remain “anemic” without economic cooperation with Russia, he said, adding that handing the Chinese a huge economic advantage would be a “strategic mistake”.
“Hungary may lack a nuclear-powered icebreaker,” he said, “but a pickaxe … can be enough to bring about common sense.” Regarding Hungary’s security, he said “an area of adequate breadth” between Hungary and Russia was needed, and Ukraine’s independence and viability were therefore a vested Hungarian interest.
