In an interview with Hungarian television channel HírTV, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that “We must sign a flexible gas supply contract with Russia – one that can be extended, if necessary.”
The current Hungarian-Russian gas supply agreement expires this year, and to replace it the Prime Minister wishes to sign a further contract which takes into consideration mid- and long-term uncertainty over the future prices of oil and gas.
According to the Prime Minister, without a flexible agreement the price cuts in utility charges for Hungarian consumers cannot be sustained. He also pointed out the further threat posed to these price cuts by the European Union’s desire to create an energy union. Mr. Orbán stated that he must therefore protect Hungarian households’ finances from pressure coming from two directions: from Russian energy supply factors, and from EU regulations seeking to restrict Member States’ ability to set consumer prices for energy.
Mr. Orbán also talked about the increasingly difficult relationships between the European Union and Russia: he stressed that Hungary must emphasise the importance of having and maintaining the fairest possible and most balanced relations with Russia. This, he said, is why he had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Budapest.
The Prime Minister pointed out that Hungary’s foreign affairs strategy currently faces a challenge due to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, stating that “We want long-lasting security, calm and peace for Hungary.” He went on to say that there are two important powers with a powerful and long-term presence in Central Europe: Germany and Russia. Hungary must seek friendly, balanced, fair and mutually beneficial relations with both these countries. Mr. Orbán added that America is also important, but that the significance of its presence is always dependent on American domestic affairs. According to Mr Orbán, Hungary’s foreign affairs strategy is built exclusively on national interests, which also take into consideration the country’s membership of NATO and the EU.
With regard to the proposal to extend the period of elementary education to nine years, he said that “I would not like Fidesz to commit itself to this policy at its next parliamentary group meeting, but I would like to clearly hear what the goals and expectations are.” Implementation, he said, would require time and consultations in order to harmonise the various interests involved, and parents, children and teachers would need to be convinced.
Referring to institutional restructuring and investment of approximately HUF 500 billion in public health care, the Prime Minister said that “we have the hardware”, and that now he would like to see the “software”: public health programmes which deliver results and prove themselves on an everyday basis. Mr. Orbán also pointed out that financing culture and sports is an integral part of this issue, as the Government wishes to fund healthy lifestyles. He also explained that although there is room for private sector involvement in health care, it cannot take over public services and it cannot be provided with public funding. “We need a state-owned, state-run, high-quality health care system, which is available to all Hungarians,” he said, adding that those who wish to access services beyond those publically provided will have to pay for these themselves, although the state can assist through tax allowances and regulation.
Talking about the advertising tax, the Prime Minister said that initially nothing had been revised, the companies concerned had lodged complaints in Brussels and the Commission was considering a procedure against Hungary. He also noted that the Government does not rule out anything, although it does have one main objective: to maintain the level of revenue generated by this tax.
Concerning immigration policy, Mr. Orbán said that debate in the EU is about economic immigrants, not political ones. In his opinion EU regulations are decidedly lax, irrational and open to abuse. As a unified strategy is not to be expected in the near future, he said, one cannot afford to wait for EU decisions, but “must do what we can by ourselves.”
The Prime Minister also pointed out that the issue of military conscription related to the Ukrainian crisis will be “raised to European level”, as it not only concerns Hungarians in Transcarpathia, but also Bulgarians and Romanians living there.
Talking about the Budapest visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr. Orbán said that the two countries’ economic cooperation has never been so successful, and noted that both parties are committed to raising this cooperation to an even higher level. This also concerns specific areas where discussions at investor and specialist level are necessary.
Concerning the upcoming by-election in the city of Veszprém, the Prime Minister said that he does not foresee any particular tasks over the next three and a half years which would require a two-thirds majority. One such issue might be the question of sending Hungarian troops to Kurdistan, capable of maintaining and securing a military camp together with the Germans and Russians. He added that on matters such as this, however, the Government must not decide alone, but must aim to achieve a broad consensus. Referring to the two-thirds majority, the Prime Minister noted: “I don’t even see the Veszprém elections in these terms; we simply want to maintain the confidence of the citizens living there.”