The Prime Minister said that a single issue has been dominating the elections held in Europe recently, as well as the upcoming Italian election: migrants and immigration. This is also the case in Hungary, he noted, adding that the issue of migration must be the focus of most consideration and debate.
Mr. Orbán stated that Hungary today faces two possible futures: either there will be a national government, which means that Hungary will not become an immigrant country; or George Soros’s people will form a government, and it will be transformed into an immigrant country. He added that in his view the people of Miskolc know what immigration means, and have had plenty of experience of it.
It is worth noting that migrants always go to cities, Mr. Orbán pointed out; and this, he said, is where ghettos and no-go areas develop, and where all the difficulties of parallel societies living alongside each other emerge. He said that in the event of a pro-migrant government being formed, two cities are in particular danger: Budapest and Miskolc.In the Hungarian general election, the Prime Minister said, the people will have to consider an issue on which they only have one opportunity to decide – and the outcome of that decision will be irreversible. If they make the wrong decision, there will not be a chance to remedy it later, and so everyone must think clearly when casting their vote.
Regarding the Hódmezővásárhely local election result, he observed that one must not take fright, but understand what it means and what follows from it. In his view, the result is an “alarm bell”. There was a local election campaign: the Fidesz candidate – the Deputy Mayor –was a good one, who did a good job; the team fought fearlessly and honourably, and did the work in hand. For the sake of the future, cooperation is vital, he stated, because every Hungarian citizen is important.
According to Mr. Orbán, in the background political pacts are being sealed: this process is ongoing, and he expects to see a situation like that in Hódmezővásárhely in every constituency. Eventually the parties will find a person in each district to stand in the election for the entire opposition; and that person will have agreed to vote for the legislative proposals presented by Brussels in accordance with the Soros Plan. The Prime Minister pointed out that ultimately in April the choice will have been narrowed down to two options: pro-immigration or anti-immigration candidates. Mr. Orbán urged people to choose wisely.
In answer to a question on the role of EU funds, he said that now, when Hungary can finally hold its head high and has achievements to be proud of, he is always surprised to hear people say that this is not due to the country’s efforts, but to the funds from the EU. Such arguments do not hold up, the Prime Minister said, as EU funds amount to 4 billion euros a year, while the country’s output is more than 110 billion euros. He stressed that Hungary owes its success and development to the hard work of the Hungarian people, to the fact that while earlier 3.6 million Hungarians were in employment now 4.4 million have jobs, and to the fact that earlier only 1.8 million people paid taxes but now 4.4 million do. This is the success of Hungarians, he said, and they should not allow their own achievements to be taken away from them.
The Prime Minister said that there is no statutory basis for linking EU funds to migrant quotas, and the EU’s seven-year budget needs to be approved unanimously. He promised that Hungary will stand its ground in the “conflict zone” of Brussels.
He described Miskolc as one of Hungary’s major cities, where, after two years, one can see positive changes and development. He said that during his visit to the city he met the Mayor in the City Hall, together with the governing parties’ two candidates: Katalin Csöbör and György Hubay. Following these meetings he visited the city’s law enforcement centre. He pointed out that now Miskolc can claim to be one of Europe’s safest cities, and this is a great achievement.
Mr. Orbán also visited Diósgyőr Stadium, which he said is close to his heart. He added that Miskolc’s football team is another reason he admires the city, but Diósgyőr is one of a kind: a club that was established more than one hundred years ago – and in the modern world it is a great achievement for anything to have survived more than one hundred years. The Prime Minister said that the project is not only a sports facility, but also an urban rehabilitation programme.
He also spoke about the Modern Cities Programme, saying that such a major initiative, focusing on the life of Hungary’s provincial cities, has not been implemented in living memory.
He added that he is extremely pleased that unemployment, which in Miskolc stood at or above 12 per cent in 2010, is now down to below 5 per cent.
He observed that the three most recent major projects had resulted in hundreds of new jobs. The city is built on the foundations of work, and industry made it great, the Prime Minister said, adding that if there are no jobs, a city sinks into depression. Therefore the main priority has been to create jobs; these now exist, and their quality has made Miskolc a modern industrial city. He stressed that he sees it as a point of honour that great success should be achieved not in cities which are predestined to it by their traditions, but in places where there was deep decline after the fall of communism.
In Mr. Orbán’s view one can claim that Miskolc has become a city with a bright future even by Western European standards. Referring to the lead singer of the Hungarian rock band Edda, he observed that soon “Attila Pataky may write a song, ‘I’m Going Back to Miskolc’!”
He pointed out that attention must now focus on improving the quality of life, with transport being one of the most important elements in this. The construction of the “Y-Bridge” will be the largest project in the next four years, he stated: funds are available for the project, which is worth more than HUF 10 billion, and a specific decision may be made by the Government in March.
