The Prime Minister, who regularly clashes with Brussels, is accustomed to this method without legal effect, which he has used since 2015 to legitimize his anti-EU positions.
Viktor Orban in Budapest, Hong Kong, on 23 October 2024. (AFP / ATTILA KISBENEDEK)
Should Hungary participate in the European Union’s “trade war” against Russia and China? Should Budapest encourage immigration, pay the fine imposed by Brussels on the right to asylum…? The Hungarian government launched a national consultation on Monday October 28 intended to collect the opinions of the population on eleven points, in particular those which oppose it to other European countries.
Defender of a strategy of opening towards the east, nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has strengthened the Central European country’s ties with Beijing and Moscow since his return to power in 2010. At the same time, he has intensified his criticism of against EU sanctions against Russia and opposes the imposition of European taxes on imports of Chinese electric cars.
“The national consultation will strengthen the government”
Viktor Orban recently explained, in the face of “the demands of Brussels” which are leading Europe to “ruin in terms of competitiveness”.
“Trade war initiated by Brussels”
Should Hungarians
“join the trade war launched by Brussels, at the risk of endangering their economy”
or should they on the contrary “opt for neutrality”, asks one of the questions. Should we
“encourage migration”
or promote birth rates, refuse or agree to pay a recent fine from European justice on the right to asylum… the form published on the government’s Facebook account has eleven points in total.
The Prime Minister, who regularly clashes with Brussels, is accustomed to
this method without legal effect, which he has used since 2015 to legitimize his anti-EU positions.
Hungary holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU until the end of December, and receives all the leaders on November 8 in Budapest in a stormy context. After his “peace mission” at the beginning of July and his meeting with Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban goes to Georgia on Monday for a two-day official visit, even as the pro-European opposition calls for demonstrations to denounce “stolen” legislative elections. “.
Citizens are invited to return the questionnaire by post by December 20.
During the last consultation at the end of 2023/beginning of 2024, relating to the “sovereignty” of Hungary,
1.5 million of the eight million voters participated
. Citing their responses, the government assured that it had received the approval of 97% of Hungarians.
Posters targeting the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, were then put up across the country. “Let’s not dance to their rhythm,” we could read on these large signs.
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