• Home
• Channel: Current Affairs
• Hungarian Opinion: PM Admits His Words 'Could be Misunderstood'

Hungarian Opinion: PM Admits His Words 'Could be Misunderstood'

• 2 Aug 2022 9:12 AM
• BudaPost

As the US Embassy in Budapest has issued a statement in defence of diversity, following the Prime Minister’s controversial remarks at Tusványos, some analysts have come to the defence of Mr Orbán.

In a short post on its internet site, the US Embassy in Budapest condemned ’rhetoric that gives oxygen to ideologies of hate and division’.

The statement recalls ’the genocide of millions’ in the last century and affirms that ’the diversity of our human family is one of its greatest strengths’. The embassy statement does not mention Prime Minister Orbán by name, nor his speech last Saturday, but the message was posted after critics accused the Prime Minister of using racist language.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Szíjjártó said that after 16 years at Mr Orbán’s side, he could testify that anti-racism is ‘at the very centre of his heart’.

Speaking on HírTV, former LMP leader András Schiffer strongly criticised the Prime Minister for his choice of words but defended him against the accusation of racism. He found it obvious that Mr Orbán spoke about a real problem – that of mass immigration from other cultures, that could cause lasting difficulties in any society.

In Magyar Hírlap, Dóra Nagy lambasts critics who accuse the Prime Minister of racism, and even call him a ‘Nazi’. Had they troubled to read his whole speech, they would have realised what he actually spoke about, she writes.

She believes that instead of trying to understand Mr Orbán’s message, such commentators were just out to smear his reputation.

This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher.

Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. 
Click here to Share Your Story

 MTI Photo: Vivien Cher Benko

Related links

Hungarian Opinion: Weeklies on Orbán's Tusványos Address

• How does this content make you feel?
• I love it
• I like it
• I dislike it

• Hungarian Opinion Tusványos Orbán Mixed-Race

XpatLoop Media Partner

BudaPost

Launched in May 2011 to provide a balanced picture of matters covered in Hungary’s national press. Their aim is to make it easier for English-speakers to understand where this country is now and where it’s heading according to the full spectrum of media opinions.

Explore More Reports

Hungarian Opinion: US Embassy Sends Barely Veiled Message to Orbán

• 2 Aug 2022 9:19 AM

As the US Embassy in Budapest has issued a statement in defence of diversity, following the Prime Minister’s controversial remarks last Saturday, some analysts have come to the defence of Mr Orbán.



Hungarian Opinion: Weeklies on Orbán's Tusványos Address

• 2 Aug 2022 9:06 AM

The six opposition-leaning weeklies condemn practically in unison the speech delivered by the Prime Minister last Saturday. One pro-government weekly simply summarises his words, while another praises his central message.



Verhofstadt's Letter on Hungary to EP President is 'Anti-Hungarian, Racist', Claims Fidesz MEP

• 1 Aug 2022 10:03 AM

Liberal MEP Guy Verhofstadt’s letter to Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, contains “grossly slanderous and hot-tempered attacks against Hungary, and is in essence anti-Hungarian and racist,” Fidesz MEP Tamás Deutsch said in a letter on Friday.



Watch: Close Ally of Orbán Quits Over 'Pure Nazi' Speech

• 28 Jul 2022 10:56 AM

Zsuzsa Hegedus, who has known the nationalist PM Orbán for 20 years, described his recent speech mentioning mixed-race as a "pure Nazi text", according to Hungarian media. She resigned, comparing his recent comments on race to those of the Nazi era.