Hungary has won the first battle against the virus, but according to experts, the virus is expected to launch a second wave of attack in October or November, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated on Kossuth Radio’s programme ‘Good morning, Hungary’ on Friday.

The virus has not broken loose, we have managed to develop the necessary containment methods, “we have gained time” and have succeeded in preparing health care for the fight. Therefore, if the epidemic were to suddenly intensify for any reason henceforth, no one would be left without care, the Prime Minister explained, adding that at this time health care must simultaneously stand by in order to keep the epidemic under control and offer normal medical care.

The virus has not gone away, he continued; however, “we have prepared for warding off the next attack of the virus” as experts claim that “there will be a second wave” after a phase of slowing down in the summer, sometime around October or November as expected.

The Prime Minister stressed that also in the next phase of the containment effort, it will be necessary to maintain the rules that are designed to protect the elderly, while separate regulations will have to be imposed in Budapest and Pest County accounting for 80 per cent of the deceased. Consequently, the restrictions on movement will remain in effect in the centre of the country, while in other places new, lighter containment regulations will be introduced.

Mr Orbán also said if they manage to reduce the fatality rate in Budapest, they will not hesitate to take action for restarting normal life also for the residents of the capital.

‘A strict timetable’ and ‘a gradual approach’ – these will be the most important terms of the coming days, he said, repeating that the government is proceeding based on Austria’s experiences, but the measures adopted in the Czech Republic also offer useful conclusions for Hungary.

Regarding the special legal order, the Prime Minister took the view that it has the advantage that, rather than giving special powers, it allows the government to take action at speed. It is reasonable to adopt new decisions every two weeks; this is how long it takes to assess the consequences of changes, he observed.

In the context of the foreign attacks that have targeted Hungary due to the introduction of the special legal order, he said once they had realised that it was not possible to localise the epidemic in epicentres, he was certain that financial speculators would soon come up with recommendations regarding the financing of the crisis which would benefit financial investors.

“If one of our country’s most talented sons George Soros had not appeared among these investors, well, I would have been very surprised,” he said.

In the case of migration, too, there was a ‘Soros Plan’, that was plan number one, and with the epidemic came ‘plan number two’ from financial investors and George Soros, offering money to Europeans where the principal should not even have to be repaid. “It’s enough to pay interest,” but that “for all eternity,” the Prime Minister said, pointing out that he expected attacks on Hungary – as a country that objects to the plan of the speculators – in order to muffle its voice, accusing the country of employing dictatorial methods. This is how they wanted to disarm Hungarians, and the Polish who also stood up for themselves, he said.

However, after reading the law line by line, they found nothing about the Hungarian special legal order that would be contrary to the EU’s civilisational traditions, he highlighted, observing that in normal circumstances, Hungary should be receiving letters of apology on an hourly basis, but at this time he is not expecting an overwhelming number of apology messages.

He also said “the Soros network” has the strongest bridgehead among liberals who “are hanging on to the umbilical cord into which George Soros keeps pumping the elixir of life,” and want to create a world government.

He added that he had seen Members of Parliament among members of the Hungarian opposition who had felt ashamed for attacking the government, and this he understood.

Regarding the economic situation caused by the epidemic, he said the overall picture “does not give rise to much enthusiasm” but similar to the management of the 2008-2009 economic crisis, also now creating jobs is the number one criterion because if there are jobs there is a chance.

They will create as many jobs – which he guarantees in person – as will be destroyed by the virus, he repeated.

Unemployment benefit is available for 3 months, and while it is true that it is impossible to live off the income support provided thereafter, in addition to or instead of this they are offering paid training and public works schemes. At the same time, state-owned companies could also increase their work force in respect of certain jobs, while the army awaits strapping young people with open arms, he argued.

He added that economic unity is key in the management of the crisis so that the country can return to the state of near-full employment.

In the interview, the Prime Minister was also asked about a recent statement made by the Romanian President in which Klaus Iohannis accused the opposition social democrats of “giving Transylvania to the Hungarians”. In this regard, Mr Orbán said in the person of the President, he got to know a respectable man who stood up for his principles, and so Hungary respects Romania and its president. In light of this, he is baffled by what happened as “we didn’t hear such statements from Romania even during the worst, anti-democratic and chaotic periods”.

“I will wait a little in order for the situation to clear up and so that we understand what actually happened. […] Naturally, if we must, we will accept the challenge, but at this time I don’t suggest that we take up the gauntlet,” he said, indicating that there is as yet no way of knowing whether this is provocation, “an accident” or the first elements of a more long-term Romanian national strategy.

The Prime Minister suggested that we wait in order to find out, and Hungary should instead aim for good neighbourly relations and give the Romanians the respect they deserve. However, he expects the same in relation to Hungarians living in Romania, Hungarians living in Hungary and Hungarian statehood as well.

Finally, regarding the upcoming Mothers’ Day, he said he sincerely hopes that everyone will find a way to make sure that “their mother appreciates that they have a child” and the other way round.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)