By Euronews/Ács Gábpr
Published on
The time is set for Hungary’s Fidesz party to break from opposition politics and establish a new “resistance politics,” former PM and party leader Viktor Orbán stressed in a speech on Saturday.
Speaking at the Bálványos Summer University, Orbán, who was ousted from government after 16 years following elections in April, said there was no longer time for the party to dwell on the election loss and that it must turn its attention to defending Hungary’s freedom, which he claimed was under threat.
Orbán said he believed that those who voted for change in the Hungarian elections in spring “didn’t vote to have their trust betrayed.”
Most of them, he said, acted in good faith and had simply expected fewer government mistakes and stronger economic performance.
But the ruling Tisza party wants and is beginning to build a new authoritarian system, the Fidesz leader continued, likening the political system being built in Hungary to Venezuela, which he described as a mix of communist thinking, political arbitrariness and economic oppression.
He added that he felt there was also now an effort to eliminate Fidesz altogether by driving its leaders out of politics and using illegitimate means to destroy any viable political alternative.
So instead of pursuing an opposition strategy based on self-reflection, he said, Fidesz must adopt a strategy of “resistance.”
In response, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said it was pointless to listen to Orbán.
“It is pointless to deal with an inexorable, disgraced mafia boss,” Magyar wrote on Facebook.
“Thank you for your wisdom and trust Hungary,” he added.
European Union
Orbán also addressed the European Union in his speech, arguing that “patriots” must take over Brussels if member states are to regain their independence and restore the balance of power within the EU.
He added that the role of European Commission president, currently occupied by Ursula von der Leyen, should be abolished, and that the EU’s executive branch should be scaled back.
“Brussels must be occupied by the Patriots,” he said.