Elections in Hungary: Prime Minister Viktor Orban bets on fear of war
Audio 01:23
Prime Minister Viktor Orban during his campaign rally in front of his Fidesz activists in Szekesfehervar, April 1, 2022. © Petr David Josek/AP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The irremovable Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban faces for the first time in twelve years a united opposition determined to beat him, during the legislative elections of this Sunday, April 3.
The Hungarian Prime Minister therefore poses as the guarantor of stability in the face of an opposition which he accuses of wanting to lead the country to war.
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With our special correspondent in Szekesfehervar,
Daniel Vallot
“
I should have told you about my balance sheet, pensions, purchasing power and what everything we are doing to fight inflation, but
the conflict in Ukraine has changed everything
.
From the start of his meeting in Szekesfehervar, Viktor Orban launched a formal attack on the opposition, accused of wanting to lead the country to war.
“
Behind our backs, the opposition has reached an agreement with the Ukrainians: if it wins the elections, it will start delivering arms to them the next day
,” adds the Hungarian Prime Minister.
And the next day, it will cut off the gas coming from Russia.
But we can't afford it, we have to protect our interests!
»
The electoral campaign was really suffocated by the Covid first, then by the war in Ukraine which completely crushed the electoral campaign in favor of Viktor Orban.
Corentin Léotard, journalist in Budapest, on the Hungarian countryside disrupted by the war in Ukraine
Sylvie Noel
Xenophobic speeches
In the crowd, Joris approves, but he is impatient, because what this voter expects from Viktor Orban is that he speaks as usual about the defense of Christian and family values.
“
For
2,000 years, Europe has developed thanks to these values.
Now these values are in danger and we must defend them!
In the countries of Western Europe, it is already too late, because over there, too much space is given to migrants and Muslims!
»
“
Our country is a model for the rest of Europe,
” added a Fidesz voter who came with a Hungarian flag in her hand.
“
Besides,
she tells us with a broad smile
, it is not us who are isolated within Europe.
It's just that we got ahead of other countries.
»
Saturday, it will be the opponent of Viktor Orban, Peter Marki-Zay, who will gather his supporters in the capital Budapest, just hours before the morning opening of the polls on Sunday.
This 49-year-old conservative mayor has the difficult task of bringing together six heterogeneous parties behind him, whether they are right-wing, social democrats or ecologists.
►Also listen: Accents from Europe - An election Sunday in Hungary and Serbia
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Victor Orban
Hungary