Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán garnered significant interest on the second day of the National Conservatism Conference (NatCon) in Brussels. PM Orbán took part in a panel discussion with Yoram Hazony, chairman of the Edmund Burke Foundation, the main organizer of NatCon. During the discussion, they reminisced about the Hungarian Prime Minister’s prior attendance at a NatCon conference in Rome in 2020.
Speaking about the changes that have taken place since then, Orbán remarked that similar problems persist, but there is an opportunity for political progress due to the strengthening right-wing. He expressed concerns that Brussels would pressure states like Hungary to abandon their migration policies.
He emphasized that the true motive behind the EU leadership’s push for migration is the liberals’ desire to attract new voters. ‘It’s not about the economy, it’s not about democracy. The real reason is to gain power through votes. That is the reality,’ he pointed out.
‘Hungary does not seek a mixed society; it aims to protect its borders and preserve its culture and traditions,’ he stated. PM Orbán underscored that individual member states should have the autonomy to decide independently how they wish to address migration issues. He added that there is no necessity for a unified EU migration policy; migration should remain within the realm of national competence.
He stressed that migration is a civilizational issue. Europe, he noted, has Christian roots, yet the majority of current migrants hail from cultures with a predominantly Muslim background, different from those of the continent. Additionally, migration has a historical horizon, prompting the question of what Hungary’s future demographic makeup will be—whether it will remain predominantly Christian or shift towards a Muslim or other cultural background.
PM Orbán stated that each country must determine for itself the type of environment and culture it wishes to cultivate. However, he emphasized, no one should impose their will on others. The Hungarian prime minister expressed Hungary’s belief that
having mixed societies advocated by liberals is not a viable path forward.
Orbán highlighted that conservative governments, including Hungary, which the Brussels leadership perceives as not conforming to expectations, are being subjected to blackmail. He criticized the European Commission, stating that it has transformed into a political actor rather than serving as the guardian of EU treaties.
Reacting to the events of the first day of the conference—the mayor of Brussels’ Saint-Josse-ten-Noode district ordered the authorities to shut down the conference but was ultimately unsuccessful—the Hungarian prime minister remarked that amidst Europe’s progressive liberal environment, Hungary stands as an island of diversity. He asserted that Hungary is the right place for conservatives to freely express themselves.
‘The freedom fighters must once again become active and take action in Europe,’ the prime minister asserted, adding that conservative civil societies must be established, comprising individuals prepared to advocate for freedom, and stated that Hungary is the ideal location for this endeavour.
Commenting on the geopolitical situation concerning the war in Ukraine, Orbán nailed down that Hungary does not want to share a border with Russia again, as it did during Soviet times. He reaffirmed Hungary’s recognition of Ukraine’s rights and independence, emphasizing that Russia’s attack on Ukraine is entirely at odds with all international conventions and universally respected values.
However, it must be recognized that Ukraine is currently a protectorate of the West, meaning that without ongoing arms and financial support, the country would not be able to sustain itself, he argued.
‘Ukraine is no longer an independent country,’
he declared.
He further expressed that the Hungarian government is unwilling to sacrifice the beneficial economic cooperation between Hungary and Russia because the Russian–Ukrainian conflict does not directly involve Hungary.
In addition, the root cause of the conflict is Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO, the PM reminded, opining that Russia will never permit Ukraine to join the military alliance in its current state. He stated that Russia will make every effort to maintain a buffer zone between NATO and itself.
The Hungarian PM asserted that a ceasefire and peace negotiations would be preferable to the continuation of war, acknowledging that Ukraine cannot prevail on the battlefield ‘This is the reality,’ he held.
On the topic of the recent Iranian attack, the Hungarian PM declared that Hungary condemns all attacks against Israel and recognizes its right to self-defence. He added that it is imperative to prevent the escalation of the Middle East conflict and avoid the region from once again becoming a war zone. Such an outcome, he warned, could destabilize Europe and jeopardize peace and security.
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