At the second world meeting of the Friends of Hungary Foundation, held in Budapest on Saturday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that in order to be successful, to remain a sure and reliable reference point in an unpredictable world, Hungarians cannot afford to treat a single issue as taboo.
The Prime Minister thinks that, instead of “ideological fixations”, we must deal with the problems reality presents us with, and “must give our own answers to the problems that concern us”. Mentioning Hungarian inventions, Mr. Orbán pointed out that the peculiar Hungarian way of thinking not only prevails in the realms of science and culture, but also filters into the world of politics.
Mr. Orbán said that we must cast our eyes beyond the borders of Hungary and Europe, and must perceive everything that is happening in the world with open and receptive minds. Those who do not pay close attention will not understand what is happening and will be on the losing side in the changes, the Prime Minister said, as he briefly summarised some signs of the crumbling world order and highlighted the fact that the world economy’s centre of gravity is increasingly shifting towards the East.
Europe is faltering, Mr. Orbán said, attributing this to the fact that the continent is no longer sure of its own identity or objectives. “The terrorist attack in Paris shocked the continent, but no one can be sure that the ensuing birth pangs will lead to effective answers”, the Prime Minister said, adding that while Europe continues its vehement debates under the spell of multi-culturalism, political correctness and “other similar magic words”, Australia is able to defend its borders.
“In an uncertain and unpredictable world, we Europeans should take more seriously the answers which are dictated by our instincts for survival, instead of escaping into the world of voodoo and taboos”, Mr. Orbán asserted. In his view, Europe is today engaged in somewhat fruitless debates on states and systems, and these are unlikely to subside. The Prime Minister also said that he sometimes feels that debate is valued more than work; if this is the case, however, Europe will fall behind, because while Europe is busy debating, the East continues to work.
The Prime Minister also said that when Hungary regained its sovereignty 25 years ago, it could hardly have thought that it was about to embark on 20 years of squabbling. It could hardly have thought that there would not be sufficient will, courage and strength to complete the enormous, fundamental changes that were required to enable Hungary, after communism, to once again become a strong, proud, Christian, western and civic country.
“We set out on our mission five years ago in a sorry state, a hopeless situation, amidst attacks and criticisms from abroad”, the Prime Minister said, adding that the 2014 elections confirmed that the country had struck out in the right direction. He pointed out that the Government had overcome the economic crisis in 1,800 days, created the conditions for financial stability, reduced sovereign debt, adopted a new fundamental law, reinforced national cohesion, and rescued hundreds of thousands of people from debt slavery. The Prime Minister mentioned reform of the education system as a further task. In reference to Britain, he noted as a positive example the fact that one can now raise the issue of full employment, and also said that hardworking people should not only hear about business achievements in the news, but should experience them first hand, in their own lives.
In the Prime Minister’s opinion, Hungary today is in the situation that it aimed for 25 years ago, and in the three years leading up to the next election the country has a government that is able and ready to act, with a commanding parliamentary majority and popular support.
Mr. Orbán thanked those present for supporting Hungary around the world, and asked them wherever they go to tell people that the Government will successfully realise its programme for a civic settlement.
Audience members asked the Prime Minister about issues which included country image, tourism and innovation. In answer to a question on other countries’ perception of Hungary, Mr. Orbán said that across the world today there is a very strong intellectual movement which sees itself as progressive and equates freedom with the elimination of all constraints. Hungary does not agree with this approach, and will not pretend to agree.
The Friends of Hungary Foundation came into being in 2011, with a view to keeping Hungarians around the world informed and involving people globally in the successful social, cultural, economic and academic activities of members of the Hungarian nation.