Orbán said that Hungary is standing on the foundations of democracy and will not let Brussels to “stealthily” deprive it of its rights. The prime minister asked lawmakers to take Hungary’s side in the debates with Brussels and the “Soros mafia”.

“Those who support migration, want to dismantle the fence and would let migrants of uncertain origin, identity and motivation settle in Hungary are acting against the Hungarian nation,” he said. Assessing the government’s recent “national consultation” survey, Orbán said most Hungarians agree that Brussels should not be allowed to force onto the country its migrant relocation programmes.

“We cannot allow Brussels to take over managing our affairs,” he said. What has so far been “the most successful national consultation” has also made it clear that most Hungarians think Brussels should not be allowed to have a say in Hungary’s decisions on taxes, wages and utility prices, he said.

The national surveys conducted so far allow Hungarians, the parliament they elected and their government to act together out of a common will. This is the foundation of Hungary’s recent achievements, Orbán said, noting that the country had been rescued from a financial collapse and further price increases and had been set on an economic growth path with hundreds of thousands of jobs created and wages increased.

Orbán said that Hungary must prepare itself for autumn debates focusing on Europe’s future.

Since Hungary is, and will continue to be, a member of the European Union, those debates will concern its future, too. He said that France and Germany, the two leading powers in Europe, may attempt “to transform” the bloc, but it is still hard to see if this would stymie or help Hungary in its efforts to enforce its interests in Brussels.

“We are facing debates that will concern very serious matters and will have consequences in the long term,” said Orbán. The prime minister said Hungary is on the right track and has every reason to be optimistic because “we again have a future”.

Orbán said the “hard-earned achievements” of the past seven years include preparing the ground for a labour-based economy to replace a benefits-based economy. Hungary has had the highest jobs growth rate within the European Union and the increase in the minimum wages since 2010 has been the third highest.

Hungary’s economy grew by 4.2% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period of last year, he noted. The functioning of the Hungarian model has been recognised even by those that had voiced concerns in the past, he added.

These achievements have been realised with national interests in mind and they should not be allowed to be put to risk as a result of “some hazy utopia, whether it be called the United States of Europe, or open society, or anything else”, he said.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Illyés Tibor