The last European Parliament election was in 2014. Since then the world has changed a lot – most importantly because in 2015 a major migrant crisis shook the continent. Therefore I feel that a higher percentage of people will vote in this election, and I urge as many of them as possible to please vote – as I have done. For the first time a joint European viewpoint is emerging across the whole of Europe on the issue that will remain with us over the coming decades, and will greatly influence our lives. So I’m hopeful, and I hope that throughout Europe anti-immigration forces will strengthen, and that anti-immigration political leaders will play a much greater role over the next five years than they have in recent years. So overall I’m more than hopeful at the prospects for the turnout and the chances of success. I’d like… This is an election in which one votes for a party list. All the pointless debates about how one analyses the numbers, and what this or that means are all put aside. It’s a clear, obvious situation, a vote for a party list selection: one can see what proportion of the Hungarian electorate stands by which political group. In this sense this election will also determine Hungarian domestic politics in the years ahead. I’d very much like to be able to use today’s election result as reference point for several years into the future. With the grace of God, this will be so. Are there any questions? I’d like to continue the campaign…
In English could you tell us what your expectations are for Europe after the elections, please?
This is the first election after the migration crisis, which happened in 2015. In many countries in Europe there was no chance for the people to express their own opinion on that subject, which is an ongoing, and more and more important subject for the forthcoming several years – even decades. So it’s important for Europe, and Hungary will take its part, and we will give a very clear opinion that we reject migration; and we would like to see leaders in position in the European Union who reject migration, who would like to stop it and not manage it. So I hope that there will be a shift in the European public arena in favour of those political parties who would like to stop migration. I think that migration is stoppable; in many countries, especially in Western Europe, politicians try to convince people that it’s not possible to stop it, but I think this is not true. The fact is that migration is stoppable – even on land and even on sea. So I hope that this idea will get a clear majority and support everywhere.
Will you accept Salvini’s offer to join Lega’s – the Italian party’s – new formation in Strasbourg?
I think the migration issue by itself, and the reaction of the people will reorganise the political spectrum in the European Union. So the traditional party families will not play the same role in the future as they have done in recent years. And who will join whom, and who will cooperate with whom is the big question of the future. But I think after the election, tomorrow morning we will be far more clever on that. Fidesz belongs to the EPP [European People’s Party], but the EPP is arguing on the future political strategical direction. We will see how we can influence that. We would not like to belong somewhere where we don’t have any influence on the main strategical issues.
At the beginning of May you told the Austrian daily Kleine Zeitung that Europe ought to take up the Austrian model. Do you stand by that statement?
I’ve switched over to Italy.
Why isn’t the Austrian model a good one?
Because now it is no more. I’d very much like Chancellor Kurz to take command of the situation, which is a difficult one; and if he succeeds in doing so, he will be a great chancellor for Austria. I trust that this will succeed. Now I’m going to continue the campaign.
Thank You. All the best for your work.