In 2010, Hungary “was in ruins after eight years of Socialist government,” but now “the Hungarian frigate is stable.” Orbán also said that nobody is above the law, and nobody should be allowed to abuse a position of advantage.

Additionally, he said the government had kept a tight grip on power because the country’s ruinous state had required a firm hand, but now he’d do more to “listen to people”.

The radical nationalist Jobbik party insisted the prime minister had, for all intents and purposes, admitted to “government-wide corruption” and “arrogance of power” in his speech, but was five years late with the admission.

The government lacks credibility in its proposed zero tolerance campaign against abuse and corruption, Jobbik said. The Socialist Party said the prime minister’s speech indicated that he “is exactly where he was five years ago”. He has “dismantled the country … and has become the sole decision-maker.”

LMP co-leader András Schiffer said the prime minister’s policies had “nothing to do with” pursuing national interests. Orbán has sacrificed national interests “on the altar of various insane ideas.” The leftist Democratic Coalition (DK) said Hungary’s net public debt has risen and the change in GDP between 2010 and 2014 was within the statistical margin of error.

DK said it was “reassuring” that the prime minister does not want Hungary to leave the European Union, “now that he, his family and his relatives have all struck it rich from EU funds.”

Együtt said Orbán’s legacy is that the number of the poor is record high in Hungary and twice as many people have moved abroad as in 1956.

“Hard-working ordinary people” have been driven to financial ruin, while businessmen Árpád Habony and Lőrinc Mészáros and ruling Fidesz stalwarts János Lázár and Antal Rogán have been among the winners.

Dialogue for Hungary (PM) said Orbán’s political legacy was that Hungary has become a depressed country without a vision. The Liberal Party spoke about a failure to guarantee welfare, democracy or the rule of law.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu - Visit Hungary Matters to sign-up for MTI’s twice-daily newsletter.