‘What Europe ultimately needs is a fundamental psychological shift, in which pathological Western civilizational guilt and national self-effacement are set aside. Needless to say, this is a tall order for Western and Northern Europe. Here the nations of Central and Eastern Europe seem to have some advantage, however, having been somewhat isolated from such forces by history. They may be able to increasingly play a beneficial leadership role—if others are willing to listen.’

‘After Israel left Gaza, I was hoping that they would take what we left there, and turn that area into a paradise. It could have been the Singapore of the Middle East with beautiful beaches. We left many hothouses and other buildings, and they destroyed it all. They took the pipes left from the irrigation, turned them into rockets, and launched them back at us.’

Many of those deported did not even make it alive to their destination, but died on the way to the Soviet Union. These people were not even registered, so there is no information about how many they were. The purpose of their abduction was to rebuild the Soviet infrastructure that had been practically destroyed in the war, so to use them for free slave labour.

‘A free and democratic republic without an education that inspires young citizens to love their country on the one hand, and, on the other, raising such citizens without a serious religious education is unlikely to produce anything good or lasting.’

‘The European Commission is getting more political than its predecessors. In my view, this is unfortunate, given that this body is meant to be independent—the “Guardian of the Treaties”.’

‘Conservatism is Progressivism driving the speed limit,’ Mark Granza, founder and editor of IM-1776 reminds, adding that so far, the conservative movement has failed to reach out to the younger generations.

‘A major theme of the classical law is that the law should be stable over time and protect traditional expectations about how human life is arranged and how society is conducted. Liberalism by contrast is a doctrine of perpetual disruption and instability, constantly trying to find new frontiers by which traditional societies, and traditional morality can be disrupted.’

Ralf Schuler, former chief political correspondent for Bild talked to Hungarian Conservative about why he left the paper, what he has been doing since, and how the future of journalism might look like.

Renowned British author, commentator, and head of MCC’s Literary Centre Tibor Fischer talked to Hungarian Conservative about his career as a novelist, why he defends Hungary, the dangers of AI and the publishing challenges writers face.

Rodrigo Ballester, head of the Centre of European Studies at MCC, talked to Hungarian Conservative about the dangers of echo chambers, big tech cannibalising content, and the risks of EU institutions overregulating the press.

‘I think that there is a huge interest in Germany but also in other European countries for that rediscovery of European ideals in real life.’

‘Many of the causes he promoted used to be thought of (by the ignorant) as “right-wing” and have now become almost, or entirely, mainstream.’

‘The Hungarian prime minister not only understands the people, but is also able to give direction and to synthesise. He can bring the people’s expectations in line with what is achievable.’

‘We need the United States and NATO to say to Russia, “Okay, we get it. NATO will not enlarge to Ukraine and to Georgia.” In my view, that is not a defeat of NATO. That is just common sense.’

Turkey’s relations with NATO have been contentious over the years, but this is not unique among the member states and the parties have always managed to resolve their differences.

‘The huge potential of the Hungarian defence industry can unfold at the best possible time, as one of the recurring themes of EU defence ministerial discussions is that stocks are being depleted and there is insufficient capacity for after-market production.’

‘There are some member states that have their own historical sensitivities, and they don’t want European legislation on minority rights because that would mean that they must put their own house in order. 50 million Europeans who belong to a national minority are not protected by anti-discrimination legislation.’

Modern Hungary is not just a model for conservative statecraft, but the model. Americans, Brits, Spaniards, Australians—everyone—can and should learn from it. And by the way, I think we will, as The Heritage Foundation will be a major advocate of it on both sides of the Atlantic.

‘We have started building a network of conservative think tanks and foundations all over Europe. The only way to go forward for conservatives is to establish a collaboration between think tanks, foundations, politics and the media.’

If you go to Israel and say that you’re from Hungary, most Israelis will smile at you, hug you and shake your hand. We perceive Hungary as a very close ally.

‘There are always fashions, there are always ideologies, there have always been, and always will be. Art managers and artists tend to ride the waves of fashion on a surfboard. But no matter how colourful a part of it is, the majority of society always wants to be somewhere in the middle.’

According to US geopolitical strategist George Friedman, who predicted Russia’s attack on Ukraine way before 2022, Moscow will be eventually forced to negotiate a peace settlement.

‘I expect that the Republicans will have a comfortable majority in the House, and will also take the Senate, with a two- to four-seat majority.’

‘The distinction between God and Caesar is in the DNA of Christianity. And many have not yet realized that it has fundamentally shaped the West.’

The translation of the Book of Books into Hungarian not only contributed to the establishment of the Reformation in Hungary, but also had a fundamentally important effect on the social and cultural development of the country.

‘1956 could teach us lessons in all these areas today. And I hope that wise Hungarian politicians, and we have always had them, will search this road.’

‘Universities nowadays also have a regional development function, in addition to maintaining and strengthening their high- quality core activities.’

‘Giorgia Meloni is clearly a woman of great ability who has risen from difficult circumstances to storm the corridors of power; but she is also a cultivated woman whose thinking does not run along ideological tramlines but adopts a humane and thoughtful attitude to challenges.’

‘Everyone thinks that the US is benefitting from the war. I simply would not say that. The US has higher budget expenditures, the US is sending munitions to Ukraine, which they are going to have to replenish. That’s going to be costly, this is all going to be costly.’

‘What we are seeing now is unprecedented, because of the relevance of these two key countries. Not just in terms of food, but also in terms of oil and fertiliser and energy production. So, it’s a very complex crisis that is affecting many essential commodities.’