in Hungary, Viktor Orban launches his campaign by “consulting” the people

A questionnaire was sent to the population, the 12th in 12 years.

Hungarians have until January 10 to respond to a national consultation. This is an 11 question form called Defending national sovereignty against Brussels. Viktor Orban is accustomed to this exercise, this is the 12th consultation in 12 years. The Prime Minister has a habit of targeting “Brussels technocrats”. He finds that the Parliament and the European Commission are too European, too federalist for his taste.

What questions are asked of Hungarians? For example, about the war in Ukraine, the questionnaire says: “Brussels has adopted a pro-war position. The European Union must stop arms deliveries to Ukraine”. We must answer yes or no to this question which is not one. It is rather a biased statement because it suggests that the European Union has a responsibility in the war, when it was nevertheless Vladimir Putin who decided to attack Ukraine. Another question : “Brussels wants to create migrant ghettos in our country. Do you agree ?” Here again, this is a distortion of reality because the migration pact, recently concluded by the Europeans, does not oblige Member States to set up refugee camps on their soil.

A propaganda tool

It is not obligatory to fill out the form, it has no legal value and many Hungarians consider it propaganda. This is especially of interest to voters of Fidesz, Viktor Orban’s party, like this retiree who lives in Budapest. “As soon as I received the form, I filled it out!, she boasts. It is a serious error on the part of Brussels not to let states do what they want. I am very happy with our Prime Minister, he is a firm person. He sees years in advance what is going to happen, and doesn’t let himself be influenced.”

Since it is not obligatory to complete the questionnaire, ultimately what is the point? For Viktor Orban, it is a political marketing tool. It serves to mobilize his voters before the elections. And then we must remember that Viktor Orban is at the head of a radical right, which, over time, has become a far-right party. The big theme of his campaign for the European elections is: in Brussels, they are doing too much, there are too many Europe, the nations risk disappearing. I, Viktor Orban, fight to preserve the interests of the Hungarian nation.