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- Whatever you wish for the enemy: the Ukrainian issue is becoming the main issue in the election campaign in Hungary
Whatever you wish for the enemy: the Ukrainian issue is becoming the main issue in the election campaign in Hungary
The Ukrainian issue is becoming the main issue in the election campaign in Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has become even more vocal in his criticism of Kiev. After Bankova's calls to completely stop purchasing Russian energy resources, he called Ukraine an enemy, and also promised to continue to deny the country military and financial assistance. In two months, it will become clear whether this will add to the popularity of the ruling FIDESZ—Hungarian Civil Union party or whether the oppositionists from Tisa, who, on the contrary, are calling for help from Kiev, will retain the advantage. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Called an enemy
"Kiev violates our fundamental interests by constantly demanding and inciting Brussels to disconnect Hungary from cheap Russian energy. Whoever does this is not an opponent, but an enemy of Hungary," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at a meeting with activists of the ruling FIDESZ—Hungarian Civil Union party in Szombathely.
According to the head of government, without Russian energy supplies, the costs of Hungarian families for housing and communal services will increase by at least 8% per year. Orban added that such an increase is equivalent to the deprivation of wages for a whole month.
The Hungarian authorities have repeatedly stated that they cannot yet do without energy resources from Russia, although they continue to diversify their supply routes and sources.
Budapest, together with Bratislava, opposes the EU plan aimed at stopping purchases of oil and gas from Russia by the union countries from 2027. The parties promised to seek the lifting of the planned ban.
On February 2, the country's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that Hungary had already filed a lawsuit in the European Court of Justice. He noted that the ban violates the principle of EU energy solidarity, endangering Hungary's security. The minister suggested that the trial would last about two years and that the ruling party would need to win the upcoming elections to complete it.
Currently, Hungary receives most of its oil through the Druzhba pipeline, and gas through the Turkish Stream and its branches through Serbia and Bulgaria. Budapest noted that last year Russia supplied Hungary with over 8.5 million tons of oil and over 7 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
It's all about the Ukrainian issue
Orban, speaking to supporters, also stressed that after the end of hostilities in Ukraine, Budapest would not participate in a possible mission to send a European contingent to the country. According to the prime minister, he had previously refused to participate in the NATO mission in Yugoslavia, despite requests from then-US President Bill Clinton.
The head of the Hungarian government has also repeatedly noted that Hungary will not pay for Kiev's military needs and strongly opposes its accession to the European Union.
After it became known in early February about the death of a Transcarpathian Hungarian during forced mobilization in Ukraine, Orban also promised that he would not allow ethnic Hungarians to be used "as cannon fodder."
The politician points out that the well-being of Hungarians is directly related to Budapest's attitude to the Ukrainian conflict. With the help of such rhetoric, Orban expects to score points ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12. For the first time in 15 years, his FIDESZ—Hungarian Civil Union party is not approaching them in the best condition.
Opinion polls show that 38% of voters now support the ruling party, while 49% support the opposition Tisa party of Peter Magyar.
In his speeches, Orban declares the country's unwillingness to get involved in the Ukrainian conflict, and also emphasizes that due to his policy and energy supplies from Russia, fuel prices and utility tariffs remain fairly low in the country.
Tisa claims that it stands only for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, not for military aid. The oppositionists also admit that Budapest will not be able to abandon energy supplies from the Russian Federation until at least 2035.
Magyar has repeatedly accused the authorities of corruption and "pandering to Russian politics." Orban, in turn, warned voters that the leader of the opposition party would obey EU decrees in everything, provide military assistance to Ukraine and draw Budapest into a conflict with Moscow, as well as allow millions of migrants into the country and raise taxes.
It is believed that Magyar enjoys great support from the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the chairman of the largest faction of the European Parliament, the European People's Party (EPP), Manfred Weber.
In addition, the ruling party has repeatedly stressed that the coming of the opposition to power will hurt the purse strings of Hungarian families. The Tisza economic program provides for a significant increase in taxes to replenish the state budget, even pensions are planned to be taxed.
According to Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, if the opposition comes to power, it plans to introduce a progressive income tax for individuals, raise taxes on businesses, cancel the 13th pension, abandon low utility bills, stop issuing preferential loans for housing, and close hospitals in small towns.
Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisa party
Last year, the current authorities announced curbing prices for basic products, raising the minimum wage by 30% over three years, and maintaining the 13th pension. In addition, families were promised new tax benefits, and the country launched a 3% youth mortgage loan program.
Will they vote for Orban
Natalia Eremina, a professor at St. Petersburg State University, noted in a conversation with Izvestia that the FIDESZ party's position is characterized by a strict defense of national interests in all areas, including on issues of relations with Brussels.
— Hungary has very consistently refused migration quotas, sought an exception from anti-Russian sanctions, etc. Therefore, German businesses are forced to move their production facilities to Hungary, because there is access to energy resources and, accordingly, enterprises are operating," the political scientist explained.
She stressed that Budapest has always adhered to this position in relation to Kiev, primarily protecting its national interests. Eremina notes that Budapest has received specific complaints from Hungarian citizens, including those living in Uzhgorod, about harassment by the Ukrainian authorities.
Shopping mall in Uzhgorod
— There were also deaths. Hungary understands that Ukraine is not a democratic country, it is impossible to negotiate with it, there is a corrupt regime there. And Budapest sees no signs that the situation can change in any way," Eremina believes.
The political scientist believes that the Hungarian authorities consider Russia as a guarantor of stability in this unstable gray zone.
— Gradually, this gray area of crime is expanding to the entire European Union, Hungary opposes it. It is clear that if a person like Viktor Orban takes such a position, then he will again receive the support of citizens. After all, they see that Hungary is more economically stable than other EU countries," the expert concluded.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
