In his press statement made in the company of Mr Áder after their meeting held in Sándor Palace, Mr Orbán stressed that we are facing a decade of threats, there is a war, in consequence of which prices are rising in the whole of Europe, the signs of a major energy crisis are emerging, causing European economies to face “agonies,” while we have yet to recover from the era of pandemics.
He highlighted that on 3 April the people made a clear decision regarding the fact that they expect the leaders of the country to protect them and to protect Hungary from these threats. Meaning that we must be left out of the war, and must give answers to the questions of the emerging European economic crisis which enable Hungary to preserve the results it has achieved, he added.
He pointed out that while there is no new government in place yet, the departing cabinet adopted decisions in the past few days that are all based on that logic, the logic that Hungary must be protected in a decade full of threats. They have extended the caps on the prices of fuel and food products, and due to the high level of inflation, they have also increased pensions, Mr Orbán recalled.
He added that he promised head of state János Áder to form a government that will be – both as a whole and its members individually – able to protect Hungary also in the dangerous decade ahead.
The President of Fidesz – who will now have the opportunity to form a government for the fifth time – also indicated that preparations are not yet at the stage where he would be able to disclose specific details about the composition of the new government; he is in contact with several candidates for minister, talks are making good progress, there are some with whom he has already reached an agreement, there are others with whom no agreement has been reached yet.
He pointed out at the same time that also on this occasion he will adopt the approach that he adopted upon the formation of his four earlier governments: so far, the civic-national side has formed governments by deducing their composition and structure from an understanding of the tasks of the four years ahead.
Mr Orbán also said the same as upon the formation of the earlier governments, also on this occasion he will agree with every minister and state secretary on a job for four years. He added that this is necessary because life is changing fast, and Hungary needs a government which is best suited to giving good answers to the challenges facing the country.
Head of state János Áder said this is the third time they have the opportunity to stand together in a similar situation. On 3 April, the ninth free election was held in Hungary, “this was the ninth election, but in many respects the first,” he said.
He recalled that this was the first time in the history of Hungary since 1990 that two party alliances had faced each other in the election; this was the first time that the number of parties successfully nominating national lists was this low; this election was attended by the largest number of international observers; it was after this election that the lowest number of appeals were submitted, and in consequence of this, this was the election whose final and absolute result was established within the shortest time.
He observed that due to the specificities of the electoral system and the house rules, in actual fact, nine parties obtained representation in Parliament.
Mr Áder stated that “the result of the election, the decision of the electors is clear: the election was lawful, constitutional, free and democratic,” neither the legitimacy of the new Parliament, nor that of the new government can be called into question.
He said the constitutional rules vest the president of the republic with the power of nominating the person of the prime minister to Parliament. He invited Mr Orbán to form the new government, and Mr Orbán accepted his invitation. At the inaugural session of Parliament to be held on Monday, too, he will propose to the new Parliament that they elect Viktor Orbán as prime minister, he said.
