In an interview with newspaper Napi Gazdaság published on Wednesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that the time has now come for civic consolidation, as Hungary is extremely close to achieving the political and social structure that could ensure long-term prosperity for Hungarians. “The time has come, we have created the prerequisites, civic consolidation may now commence. Everyone can take a step forward”, the Prime Minister declared.

On the issue of migrants, Mr. Orbán said that Hungary is especially vulnerable in view of its size and geographical location, and just a single error in the field of immigration could lead to irreparable changes.

The Prime Minister also touched on the topic of multiculturalism, which he defined as the mingling of different civilisations and the cohabitation of Islam, the Asian religions and Christianity. “We will do everything possible to save Hungary from this”, he declared, adding that we are happy to welcome investors, artists and scientists from non-Christian countries, but we do not want to become intermingled with them on a populace level. This kind of coexistence has not been effective in Europe, he stressed.

In reply to a question on whether he would be appointing leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group Antal Rogán as his political Chief of Cabinet, Mr. Orbán said that he needed partners who can facilitate his political endeavours, and Mr. Rogán is currently in first place among the possible candidates.

Concerning the potential introduction of the Euro, Mr. Orbán said that although that may have seemed a logical step earlier on, the Eurozone had treated the problems caused by the 2008 economic crisis most clumsily, and a similar financial crisis could occur again at any time. Therefore, like Central European in general, Hungary will wait until it feels the time is right. He said that standing on our own two feet is a competitive alternative, adding that with right5 financial, monetary and economic policies, the Hungarian Forint could remain strong for decades.

With regard to the opposition, Mr. Orbán said that today’s left-wing has made a respectable, but thus far unsuccessful attempt to find a leftist identity that stands on national foundations. On the Jobbik party, he declared that it is a danger to Hungary, although this threat must not be exaggerated. The Prime Minister also noted that “entrusting Hungary to the hands of either the left wing or Jobbik at this time would be tempting fate”, because the global shifts and crises that are currently ongoing are such, that not understanding them and designating an incorrect path as a result would cause problems of unimaginable scale for the country.

According to the Prime Minister, in order for Hungary to feel sovereign, it must have a strong influence on the banking sector, where “we are doing well”, and in the media, the majority of which should also not be in foreign hands. “We could be doing better” in this latter field, he noted. In addition, the Prime Minister specified the fields of energy and trade; the former is “almost in order”, while with regard to the latter, we are still far from our goal.

(Prime Minister's Office/MTI)