Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed optimism about the nation’s economic prospects, stating that 2025 will be a ‘strong and successful year’ with new opportunities emerging. Speaking on public Kossuth Radio, he emphasized that government policies continue to focus on two key groups: families with children and pensioners.
According to Orbán, these groups receive priority because ‘when trouble arises, people immediately think of their children and their parents.’ He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting these demographics, highlighting that when economic opportunities arise, the first question is always what can be done for them.
The Prime Minister particularly emphasized support for pensioners, announcing a home renovation aid scheme for retirees living in towns with fewer than 5,000 residents. The programme offers up to six million forints in funding, with the government covering three million and the remainder available as a loan. Orbán noted that the initiative could benefit up to 600,000 people.
Regarding the 13th-month pension, Orbán dismissed political debates surrounding the scheme, stating that it should not be a matter of political contention. He accused left-wing governments of originally introducing the benefit, only to later withdraw it. The current administration, he said, reinstated it despite opposition from Brussels, which he claimed prefers diverting financial resources to banks and investors rather than pensioners.
‘The Hungarian government is resisting these pressures, and we have won the battle so far. The 13th-month pension will be paid to retirees soon—use it in good health!’ Orbán stated.
Orbán also addressed Hungary’s relations with the United States, noting that President Donald Trump had halted the USAID programme, which he accused of financing political activities under the guise of international aid. According to Orbán, certain individuals and organizations received funding both from the US and from philanthropist George Soros, using these resources for activities that undermine national sovereignty.
He claimed that foreign influence extends to the media as well, pointing to Politico as an example of an outlet receiving financial support to criticize Hungary’s policies on gender issues, migration, and the Russia–Ukraine conflict. ‘These people are agents, not serving their homeland but external interests,’ he remarked.
Turning to migration, Orbán reiterated Hungary’s strong opposition to the EU’s proposed migration pact, arguing that it cannot be altered through negotiation alone. ‘If we think that the migration pact imposed by Brussels can be changed with reasoned arguments and polite discussions, we are mistaken. The only way to oppose it is through strength and resistance,’ he said.
He pointed out that Hungary remains at the forefront of resistance to EU migration policies, but other countries, including Poland, Germany, and Italy, are now joining in opposition. He described the German political landscape as increasingly resistant to Brussels’ migration rules and expressed hope that upcoming elections would further reinforce this stance.
Orbán concluded by underlining the importance of national sovereignty, stating that both Hungary and the United States currently have governments committed to protecting it. ‘There will be screaming and wailing, but Hungarian sovereignty must be defended,’ he declared.
He also warned against accepting foreign funding for political activities, promising legislative action to prevent external interference in Hungarian politics. ‘We must sweep them out—dismantle the entire Soros network. Political funding from abroad must be stopped, and we will ensure this happens,’ he stated.
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