The prime minister added that Hungary had not had "such strong influence in the world as now" especially considering Hungary's small size.

While "they say so many things (about Hungary) in the West and it is difficult to tell what should be taken seriously ... the problem cannot be too large if forty plus European heads of state will come to Hungary at the invitation of the Hungarian prime minister," Orban said referring to the recent European Political Community summit in Budapest.

Orban seeks 'great Hungary-US deal'

Prime Minister Viktor Orban is seeking to strike "a great agreement" between Hungary and the United States, with US president-elect Donald Trump, the PM said in an interview to commercial TV2 on Sunday.

Hungary and the US will need to sign an agreement to prevent double taxation, as the incumbent administration "has failed to renew the one that expired", Orban said, adding that he was seeking agreement with Trump "on some major economic matters". "I think we will have to opportunity to do so," he said.

Referring to the recent EU summit in Budapest, Orban said participants had realised that "Europe cannot go on doing what it has done so far" and that it needed change. European leaders "so far giving Ukraine everything will now switch to the opposite", he said, adding that "we will need to manage the change together".

"I wouldn't want to see Europe being torn apart into opposing camps," the prime minister said, adding that his goal was to "shift from a pro-war position to a pro-peace approach together".

Orban: 'We are not alone anymore, the whole of America is with us'

Donald Trump is "not our saviour but our comrade-in-arms" and now "we are not alone anymore, the whole of America is with us, the American government," Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Sunday in an interview with television channel TV2.

Analysing the American elections, he said the most important question is what will happen to Hungarians. "We Hungarians, the current Hungarian government must stand up for Hungarian interests," he added.

Regarding Donald Trump's election, he said that "we can achieve our interests and goals more easily than before, but only we can achieve them."

Donald Trump is fighting for things that Hungary is also fighting for, he added.

Orban: Decision to lower energy prices within six months a must

Within half a year, decisions resulting in a reduction in European energy prices must be made, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Sunday in an interview with television channel TV2.

Speaking about an agreement adopted at an informal meeting of EU heads of state and government in Budapest on Friday, the PM said in Hungary households receive the cheapest gas and electricity in all of Europe, so this agreement will primarily be good for entrepreneurs, who pay very high prices in the same way as European entrepreneurs.

This is largely down to politicians, because the formulas used to set energy prices in Europe have been set up badly, he added.

Orban pointed to an anti-bureaucratic revolution as a second step in the series of measures. He said that within half a year, the number of rules that clearly hinder free competition and the operation of companies must be radically reduced. He noted a new rule that no new legislation can be created that does not have a competitiveness test.

The prime minister said 2025 would be a fantastic year, things will happen in Hungary that have never happened before. He noted offering subsidised credit for young, blue-collar workers, doubling the tax allowance for families raising children, housing subsidies and the Demjan Sandor Programme to support SMEs.

Orban: Trump's victory to restore peace, increase economic possibilities

"Donald Trump's victory will primarily restore peace and broaden our economic possibilities," Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview broadcast by commercial TV2 on Sunday night.

The prime minister added that "important achievements could be made, which would not be possible if the war (in Ukraine) went on, with a continued risk of Hungary becoming involved."

Orban said Hungary's diplomacy "has not been as strong in the past 100 years". The prime minister added that Hungary had not had "such strong influence in the world as now" especially considering Hungary's small size.

While "they say so many things (about Hungary) in the West and it is difficult to tell what should be taken seriously ... the problem cannot be too large if forty plus European heads of state will come to Hungary at the invitation of the Hungarian prime minister," Orban said referring to the recent European Political Community summit in Budapest. The prime minister highlighted the "efforts of many years" by European Affairs Minister Janos Boka and Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto that contributed to the success of Hungarian diplomacy.

Orban said similar European summits "could be met with disinterest" but the Budapest meeting was the first such occasion after the US presidential election, and it also had the EU competitiveness pact, as proposed by the Hungarian EU presidency, on its agenda.

According to the prime minister, "it is certain" that the government would prepare a "peace time budget" under which "we will spend less on war-related items and we could afford a lot more measures aimed at prosperity for the people."

Orban said next year would see "an unprecedented" programme to promote small business, loans for employees, as well as "opportunities for cheaper, more affordable housing" and a maintained 13th month pension scheme. He said Trump's election was bringing the world "an enormous step closer to peace", adding that "now the whole world is speculating" how the new president would achieve that.

Analysing the American elections, Orban said the most important question is what will happen to Hungarians. "We Hungarians, the current Hungarian government must stand up for Hungarian interests," he added. After Trump's election, he said "we can achieve our interests and goals more easily than before, but only we can achieve them." He warned however, that Trump is "not our saviour but our comrade-in-arms".

While Hungary "has often felt alone", now "we are not alone anymore, the whole of America is with us, the American government," Orban added. "Everybody was surprised at Trump's win," Orban said, but he added that he had been "as certain as two and two make four". He said people both in Europe and in the US were fed up with war, migration, and "this gender thing" and the Democrat administration was "pro-war, pro-migrant, and pro-gender".

Orban said he was seeking to strike "a great agreement" between Hungary and the US.

Hungary and the US will need to sign an agreement to prevent double taxation, as the incumbent administration "has failed to renew the one that expired", Orban said, adding that he was seeking agreement with Trump "on some major economic matters". "I think we will have to opportunity to do so," he said.

Referring to the recent EU summit in Budapest, Orban said participants had realised that "Europe cannot go on doing what it has done so far" and that it needed change. European leaders "so far giving Ukraine everything will now switch to the opposite", he said.

"I wouldn't want to see Europe being torn apart into opposing camps," the prime minister said, adding that his goal was to "shift from a pro-war position to a pro-peace approach together".

On another subject, Orban said "Europe would be on the losing side as long as it pays four times for gas and three times for electricity as its American competitor." Within half a year, decisions resulting in a reduction in European energy prices must be made, he said.

Speaking about an agreement adopted at an informal meeting of EU heads of state and government in Budapest on Friday, the PM said in Hungary households receive the cheapest gas and electricity in all of Europe, so this agreement will primarily be good for entrepreneurs, who pay very high prices in the same way as European entrepreneurs.

This is largely down to politicians, because the formulas used to set energy prices in Europe have been set up badly, he added.

Orban pointed to an anti-bureaucratic revolution as a second step in the series of measures. He said that within half a year, the number of rules that clearly hinder free competition and the operation of companies must be radically reduced. He noted a new rule that no new legislation can be created that does not have a competitiveness test.

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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