Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed what he called a disinformation campaign tied to Szőlő Street, where a juvenile correctional facility operates. Speaking on Kossuth Radio, Orbán clarified that the institution’s director had been involved in running prostitution rings, but stressed this had nothing to do with the boys housed there. He said false claims had been circulated suggesting paedophile crimes connected to the government, a narrative he believes carries foreign links.
Orbán declared that paedophilia is one of the gravest crimes and accused those who spread such unfounded allegations of committing a serious offence themselves. He warned that fabricating such charges against public officials is doubly or triply grave, especially if the aim is to discredit the police or bring down a minister or the government. He underlined that all members of his cabinet are innocent, and that those behind the accusations will face legal consequences.
The prime minister framed the controversy as part of a broader political and cultural struggle, pointing to what he described as Western Europe’s decline, worsened by migration, economic difficulties, and rising aggression spilling into politics. He urged political actors to act responsibly, count to ten before speaking, and emphasized that Hungary must remain a peaceful and secure country.
‘The prime minister framed the controversy as part of a broader political and cultural struggle, pointing to what he described as Western Europe’s decline’
Orbán also turned to other issues. He said the government now considers Antifa a terrorist organization, following recent actions against members stripped of immunity. On energy security, he repeated that Hungary’s dependence on Russian oil and gas is a matter of geography, warning that cutting supplies would reduce the country’s economic output by 4 per cent. He insisted Hungary will continue to pursue its national interests even when they diverge from American or European expectations.
On domestic policy, Orbán highlighted tax reforms, including income tax exemptions for mothers with three or more children, which he said will leave four trillion forints with Hungarian families. He described his government as one of tax cuts, contrasting it with the opposition, whom he accused of wanting to raise taxes, including a possible wealth tax. Orbán also announced that family tax benefits would be doubled, extending life-long exemptions to more mothers.
He touted new investments, including 2,500 jobs in Békéscsaba supported by government funding and the inauguration of a new BMW plant in Debrecen, arguing that opposing such projects would be taking bread away from Hungarians.
On relations with Brussels, Orbán claimed that the European Union wants a prime minister who can be blackmailed, alleging that opposition figure Péter Magyar is being shielded by Brussels to serve this role. He rejected EU demands on migration, energy, family policy, and war participation, vowing to resist external pressure.
Finally, Orbán stressed that development efforts are narrowing the gap between eastern and western Hungary. With infrastructure, technology, and industry spreading, he predicted that within a few years there would be no significant difference in living standards between the two regions.
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