There is a clear struggle between the pro-war and peace factions in both Europe and America. Unfortunately, in Europe, the pro-war stance dominates. Such a statement the Prime Minister of Hungary made in an exclusive interview with Blikk.
When asked if he wears a bulletproof vest during public appearances, PM Victor Orbán stated, “I have never worn a bulletproof vest, and I am not going to wear one now”. He emphasized that despite the recent assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico by a pro-war assailant, he continues to believe in meeting people face-to-face without heightened security measures. “There is always a risk, but complete safety is unattainable”, he noted, underscoring the importance of political leaders maintaining direct contact with citizens.
Regarding international espionage and cyber threats, the prime minister explained, “The more advanced a country’s communication system is, the more espionage shifts to cyberspace”. He acknowledged the constant attempts by various international actors to access Hungarian data and highlighted the significance of daily intelligence briefings: “Every morning, I start my day by reading the reports, including those from our intelligence services”.
Discussing Hungary’s peace-focused campaign, PM Orbán expressed concerns about the dominant pro-war stance in Europe.: “There are about twenty-some EU member states firmly supporting the war, while Hungary is steadfastly for peace’.
Expanding on the European political landscape, the prime minister highlighted the significant divide between pro-war and peace-oriented factions: “There is a clear struggle between the pro-war and peace factions in both Europe and America. Unfortunately, in Europe, the pro-war stance dominates. Hungary remains a strong advocate for peace, alongside what was a peace-oriented Slovakia, disrupted by the recent assassination attempt”.
PM Orbán stressed the importance of upcoming European elections in influencing national leaders’ stances on the war: “European elections are not just about distributing parliamentary seats; they reflect national sentiments. If peace-oriented parties gain more support, it will impact national leaders”. He anticipates a shift towards peace in both the European Parliament and the European Council, driven by the electorate’s growing opposition to the war.
He also touched on the complexities of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, emphasizing that it involves more than just the two nations: “The West is heavily involved, making it a proxy war. We need parallel negotiations: one between Ukraine and Russia, and another between Russia and the U.S.”.