The re-elected Prime Minister emphasized that the coming decade will be one of danger, insecurity and warfare.Continue reading
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, congratulated Viktor Orbán on his re-election as Hungary’s prime minister on Monday. The congratulations came somewhat belatedly, as Ursula von der Leyen failed to do so immediately after the April 3 parliamentary elections, in which the Fidesz-KDNP again secured a two-thirds majority in parliament. Orbán took his oath of office yesterday, Monday. In his inaugural speech, he talked about the European Union, which he again criticized, but also said that it is in Hungary’s interest to remain a member of the European Union.
This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.
On Monday, the National Assembly re-elected Viktor Orbán as prime minister. In his speech after being sworn in, the Prime Minister sharply criticized the European Union, saying: “It is true that instead of a Europe of nations, they want to build a new empire, the United States of Europe. It is also true that the cultural distance between the western half of Europe and Hungary is growing…,” adding, “We believe in nation states, which Brussels has already abandoned. For us it is important to have a homeland that we love and to preserve the continuity of 1000 years of Hungarian life,” also stressing:
I want to make it clear that Hungary is a member of the European Union and it is in our interest that it remains a member in the next decade.”
After Orbán’s re-election as prime minister, the President of the European Commission posted her congratulations on Twitter, writing that the community faces unprecedented challenges, adding that she is looking forward to working together with Hungary to successfully address them.
Dear Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, congratulations on your reelection today.
The EU faces unprecedented challenges.
I look forward to working together to ensure we can collectively address them successfully.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 16, 2022
Ursula von der Leyen’s Twitter message comes somewhat belatedly, as she had not sent a message of congratulations to Orbán right after his Fidesz party secured another two-thirds victory in the Hungarian parliamentary elections on April 3.
Meanwhile, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, also congratulated Orbán on Twitter, writing:
In these testing times, the EU’s unity and sovereignty are our main strengths.
Congratulations on your re-election dear Viktor Orban and looking forward to our continued cooperation at the European Council.
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) May 16, 2022
Featured photo by Balázs Szecsődi/PM’s Press Office