The rule of law is compatible with conservative values, Judit Varga says.Continue reading
Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga spoke to National Interest about the Ukraine war, the European Union, and the problems conservative politicians are facing.
“We condemned the Russian aggression, there is no question who started the war. But we do believe that all efforts should point to de-escalation because from a local conflict we have a global problem, energy crisis, and war-time inflation” Justice Minister Judit Varga stressed in an interview with National Interest, pointing out that “so far only Austria and Hungary raised their voice for an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations, no other states have mentioned that in those terms”. According to Varga, “unsophisticated sanctions of the EU”, hurt Europe more than Russia.
The Minister explained the Hungarian position to the American magazine according to which, it is not Ukraine and Russia who should hold peace talks, because “it is only Russia and the United States who could hammer out a solution for the long term”. “No country should be interested in an escalation in the eastern parts of Europe because it affects us more. The longer the war lasts, the risk and damage will be higher,” she said.
Asked about EU law, Varga said that “nothing is supranational in the EU, it is not a federation yet, and I hope it never will be”. “We can have joint decisions only in certain areas where European law prevails. In family policy, for example, European law shall never exist or prevail, so the priority is in areas of shared competence, like industrial policy, as that can be a justified place for European legislation,” she explained.
We should have a unity also that respects diversity. But with legal and financial pressure tools, against those who do not take the line in gender, migration, etc. We are turning to a multinational company directed by NGOs; this should not be in the interest of the continent,
Judit Varga warned.
Asked about whether she feels “there is an imbalance in media coverage when it comes to conservative women leaders such as yourself and liberal politicians such as Sanna Marin or Kaja Kallas or Jacinda Ardern,” Judit Varga responded that “we conservatives are humble—we do not have to be extreme on the internet to be okay, we talk to our people and work then go home, cook dinner, kiss our kids, and read a book at night”. “We do not need to promote or over-exaggerate ourselves. This is the character and nature of conservatism,” she explained.
Featured photo via Facebook/Varga Judit