Hungary Blocks €50bn In EU Aid For Ukraine

 

BBC: Hungary blocks €50bn of EU funding for Ukraine 

Hungary has blocked €50bn ($55bn; £43bn) in EU aid for Ukraine - just hours after an agreement was reached on starting membership talks.

"Summary of the nightshift: veto for the extra money to Ukraine," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after Thursday's talks in Brussels.

EU leaders said the aid negotiations would resume early next year. Ukraine is critically dependent on EU and US funding as it continues to fight occupying Russian forces. 

The aid blocking was announced by Mr Orban shortly after the EU leaders decided to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. 

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WNU Editor Joining the EU is an important long term goal for Ukraine. But the priority (and emergency) right now is money. There is now a growing worry in Ukraine that with aid from both the U.S. and the EU now blocked, people's salaries and those who serve in the armed forces are not going to get paid in the coming weeks. 

Hungary Blocks €50bn In EU Aid For Ukraine  

Hungary blocks €50bn in EU aid for Ukraine hours after membership talks approved -- The Guardian  

Hungary's Orban blocks aid for Ukraine, says he can still halt EU accession -- Reuters  

Hungary’s Orbán blocks EU aid for Ukraine after membership talks agreed -- EurActiv  

Hungary blocks 50 billion euros in EU aid for Ukraine following approval of membership talks -- France 24  

Hungary blocks Ukraine aid package, but EU membership bid advances -- CBS  

EU summit: Hungary blocks €50 billion Ukraine aid deal -- DW  

Scholz gets Orbán out the room to open Ukraine’s membership talks -- Politico

An Interesting Interview With Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán

Ep. 20 Hungary shares a border with Ukraine. We traveled to Budapest to speak with the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán. pic.twitter.com/LOzpMrQNIz

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 29, 2023

WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction. In the current environment Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's remarks that the US drop its “bad policy” of military confrontation with Russia and seek peace instead will be ignored by Washington.

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban Says Ukraine Can't Win War Against Russia

 

Bloomberg: Hungary’s Orban says Ukraine can’t win war as he justifies veto on aid  

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban dug in his heels over crucial European Union aid to Ukraine, offering sympathy for his neighbor but nothing more to help it fight off Russia’s invasion. 

Speaking in a Bloomberg interview at the Qatar Economic Forum, Orban argued that Ukraine’s military effort is doomed and sending further aid will only lead to more deaths. 

 Read more ....  

WNU Editor: On a side note. Hungarian PM Orban is hoping that former President Trump wins the 2024 US Presidential election .... Hungary’s nationalist leader Orban says he wants Trump to win U.S. election (CNBC). 

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban Says Ukraine Can't Win War Against Russia

'Emotionally it's tragic': Ukraine will lose war, Hungarian leader says. Live updates -- USA Today  

Hungary’s Orban says ‘poor Ukrainians’ cannot win against Russia -- Al Jazeera  

Ukraine can’t win against Russia – Orban -- RT  

Orban thinks NATO reluctant to deploy own troops to Ukraine, no victory in cards for Kiev -- TASS

Hungary's Foreign Minister Says The EU Is In A ‘Warlike Mood’

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. (MTI) 

 REMIX: EU is in a ‘warlike mood,’ warns Hungary’s foreign minister  

Hungary is calling for peace even as most European nations are pushing to escalate the war 

Europe is pushing for more war and taking measures to not only accelerate arms deliveries to Ukraine but also stamp out pro-peace voices in Europe, said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó in Luxembourg on Monday. 

“The EU is in a warlike mood, with the vast majority of member states wanting to supply Ukraine with more weapons for more money,” said Szijjártó. 

“This atmosphere of war here also implies that the pro-peace advocates that continue to argue for peace continue to come under severe political and verbal attack, whether from countries present here or not,” he added.  

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WNU Editor: I concur. The European public may not want to escalate the conflict, but their political leaders are on a different pathway.

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán Says The U.S. Cannot Push Hungary Into War On The Side Of Ukraine

 

REMIX: PM Orbán says the US cannot push Hungary into war – the rest of Europe would be wise to follow his policy 

Constant attacks of the Hungarian government from U.S. Democrats do little to differentiate the U.S. from the bullying superpowers it seeks to distance itself from 

The relentless criticism by the Biden administration towards the incumbent Hungarian government is entirely disproportionate and unjustified, and does little to separate the current U.S. regime from the malign superpowers it seeks to distance itself from. Hungary’s leader recognizes this and is putting his own country’s interests ahead of those of the United States, a stance that Europe would be wise to follow. 

Despite pressure from the U.S., Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said his country cannot be pushed into joining the war on the side of Ukraine.  

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WNU Editor: Relations between the current U.S. and Hungarian administrations have certainly deteriorated .... Hungary's prime minister called U.S. a main adversary, leaked documents say (NBC).

Hungarian Prime Minister Says Europe Close To Deciding On Deploying Peacekeeping Troops in Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Orban  

Newsweek: Europe Close to Deciding on Peacekeeping Troops in Ukraine—Viktor Orbán 

European leaders are close to discussing whether the European Union can send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was quoted as saying on Friday. 

Orbán, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was speaking to local radio station Kossuth Rádió on Friday morning about Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, media outlet Mandiner reported. 

Earlier in March, the Russian government mentioned Hungary as being in a group of foreign states that it said had committed "unfriendly actions against Russia, its companies and citizens," despite a longstanding amicable relationship between Orbán and Putin.  

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Update #1: EU ready to discuss ‘some peacekeeping missions’ in Ukraine, says Hungary’s Orban (New Voice of Ukraine)  

Update #2: EU Leaders Ready To Discuss Peacekeepers For Ukraine - Orban (Ukrainian News)  

WNU Editor: Such a deployment of EU "peacekeepers" will be viewed by Russia as a deployment of NATO troops into Ukraine .... Former Russian President Medvedev warns NATO ‘peacekeeping’ troops in Ukraine will be legitimate targets (EuroWeekly News).

Budapest Is Teaching Finland And Sweden A Lesson

 

Euronews: ‘Budapest is teaching Finland and Sweden a lesson’: Hungary becomes increasingly isolated in NATO  

Hungary is becoming increasingly isolated within the NATO military alliance. Even before the war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán went against the grain compared to other European Union countries. 

But he has since lost his most important patron: Poland. In a speech in February, in which he referenced World War II, Orbán admitted that he had run out of allies: "The other countries thought that if the Germans could not resist so much external pressure, they wouldn't be able to either”. 

“So, they moved from the peace camp to the war camp. That leaves just us two: Hungary and the Vatican," he added.  

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WNU Editor: He is probably right .... Sweden’s PM: Finland likely to join NATO without us (Politico).

Hungarian PM Orban Says West Is ‘In A War With Russia’

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, is shown meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for bilateral talks in Berlin on Oct. 10. In an interview Friday, Orban marvelled at how far Germany's position on weapons for Ukraine has changed in the past year. (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)  

American Conservative: Viktor Orban: West Is ‘In A War With Russia’ 

Notes from a candid session with the antiwar Hungarian prime minister, who warns this conflict could easily get much worse It happened again. 

This evening was the third time I've been in a small group session with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. I told the visiting journalists and publishers that they were going to be blown away by this guy, because they're not going to believe how different he is from the way he is portrayed in the Western media. He's sharp, funny, brilliant, and completely confident. He's not hovered over by press aides, and he doesn't guard his words to the point where he says nothing but mush. He's really interesting. As I told the folks I talked to before hand, at the conference, who were invited to meet later with the PM, "You're not going to believe that a world leader is actually like this." 

As usual, after the event, there were stunned. Orban spent two hours with us, answering every question -- even particularly tough ones from a Polish journalist -- and was clearly loving it. I was never around Bill Clinton personally, but the things I read about how he was a natural politician -- it's at least as true of Viktor Orban. Last year, I was talking to a Fidesz politician about the PM, and he said there's not another politician in this country who can go from strategizing at the top level, to talking to country people at a farmer's market, and be utterly genuine in both places. I believe it. If he were on TV more in the United States, the view people have of Hungary would be totally different.  

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Update #1: Ukraine's allies have drifted into war but Hungary won't, Orban says (CBC/AP)  

Update #2: Orban tears into Scholz for tanks deployment to Ukraine and declares 'you are at war' (Express)  

WNU Editor:  He is right. The West is in a war with Russia, and Russia knows it.

Hungarian PM Orban is well known to be anti-war, and is a critic on how the EU is responding to the Russia-Ukraine war. But what is upsetting Ukraine is Orban's remarks to reporters that Ukraine is now a no man's land and comparing it to Afghanistan .... Ukraine to summon Hungarian envoy over 'unacceptable' remarks by Orban (Reuters).

Hungary's Foreign Minister Rules Out Involvement In Ukraine Conflict: Says 'This Is Not Our War'

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (L) and Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó arrive for the second day of a NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, 12 July 2018. [Pool/EPA/EFE]  

News 360: Hungary rules out involvement in Ukraine conflict: «This is not our war». 

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has ruled out that the country could get involved in any way in the conflict in Ukraine because, he says, it is not Hungary's war, although he has expressed the importance of the cessation of hostilities in Eastern Europe. 

 "The Hungarian people are not responsible for this war, the Hungarian people can do nothing for the outbreak of war. The Hungarian people did not want this war," Szijjarto said, according to 'Magyar Nemzet'. 

"This is not our war, we do not even want to get involved, we have to stay out of this war (...) This is the decision of the Hungarian people", the foreign minister asserted, alluding at this point to the latest election results.  

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WNU Editor: None of my friends, readers, and contacts in Hungary want to get involved in this war. And they are not alone. With the exception of maybe a person or two that I know in the UK, there is no desire among the people that I know in Europe to get involved in this war.

Unfortunately, most European leaders have a different view, and getting involved in this war by escalating it is their priority now. But fortunately for the Hungarian people, who voted decisively for Orban in elections last year because of his views on the war, the Hungarian leadership understand the risks and potential disaster if a policy of involvement is followed, and are choosing to stay out of it.

EU Freezes €22 Billion In Funds For Hungary

FILE PHOTO: Hungary's parliament convenes for autumn session, in Budapest © Thomson Reuters  

Reuters: EU holds back all of Hungary's cohesion funds over rights concerns 

EU holds back all of Hungary's cohesion funds over rights concerns 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Thursday it would hold back all 22 billion euros of EU cohesion funds for Hungary until its government meets conditions related to judiciary independence, academic freedoms, LGBTQI rights and the asylum system. 

EU institutions had already decided on Dec. 12 to freeze 6.3 billion euros of the funds until the right-wing and eurosceptic government of Viktor Orban meets an even tougher set of 17 conditions also linked to the judiciary and dealing with corruption at high levels. 

Read more ....  

Update #1: The European Union suspends all Cohesion Fund resources for Hungary (Novinite)  

Update #2: EU Freezes Nearly €22 Billion in Funds Earmarked for Hungary (Bloomberg)  

WNU Editor: According to Bloomberg this is one of the main reasons why this money is not being transferred .... 

.... The commission said in a statement that Hungary wasn’t fulfilling the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights. In particular, it mentioned a so-called “child-protection law” that bans minors being exposed to any kind of portrayal of homosexuality or sex reassignment, which has drawn criticism for restricting the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Has Hungary Become A Spy-Hub For Russia?

Russian President Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban 

DW: Is Hungary becoming Russia's spy hub within the EU?  

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban maintains close relations with Russia and seems to be turning a blind eye to the presence of Russian agents in Hungary. 

In late November 2022, Ukrainian special forces arrested a suspected Russian agent at the Ukraine–Hungary border. The man had been attempting to smuggle secret information into EU member state Hungary on a flash drive that he had allegedly concealed in his anus. 

The flash drive contained stolen personal information about senior figures and staff at the Ukrainian domestic secret service SBU and the Ukrainian military intelligence service GUR, as well as sensitive data on Ukrainian army bases, weapons and logistics.  

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WNU Editor: This article is more of a "hit-piece" on Hungarian PM Orban than what Russian spies are doing in Hungary.

Hungary Vetoes EU Plan To Raise Over $18 Billion In Funding For Ukraine

FILE PHOTO: Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives for the second day of the EU leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium, October 22, 2021. Olivier Hoslet/Pool/via REUTERS  

Euronews: Ukraine war: Hungary blocks €18 billion in aid for Kyiv and deepens rift with EU 

Hungary has blocked the approval of a new EU package of financial aid for Ukraine worth €18 billion, which the Kyiv authorities urgently need to cover their ballooning state deficit and keep the economy running against the backdrop of Russia's invasion. 

The aid is designed to be disbursed over the course of 2023, amounting to €1.5 billion per month. "Hungary is not in favour of the amendment of the financial regulation," Hungarian Finance Minister Mihály Varga said during a meeting of finance ministers on Tuesday. 

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WNU Editor: I guess this threat did not work .... EU Commission calls for freeze on €13bn funding for Hungary (BBC). 

Hungary Vetoes EU Plan To Raise Over $18 Billion In Funding For Ukraine  

Hungary blocks EU Ukraine aid, deepening rift with Brussels -- AP  

Hungary Vetoes EU Aid for Ukraine, Bloc Delays Decision on Funds for Budapest -- Reuters  

Hungary blocks Ukraine aid package, insists veto isn't related to EU sanctions -- FOX News  

Hungary vetoes Ukraine aid, EU seeks alternative solution -- Politico.eu

Hungarian PM Orban Says He Will Veto An EU Plan To Provide An €18 billion Aid Package To Ukraine In 2023

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban listens to a question during a press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer after their trilateral meeting in Belgrade on November 16, 2022. © Darko Vojinovic, AP  

France 24: Orban says Hungary will stick to veto of EU's Ukraine aid plan 

Hungary's prime minister said Friday that he will continue to oppose a European Union plan to provide an €18 billion aid package to Ukraine in 2023, a position that promises sustained tensions as the bloc and the nationalist Hungarian government wrangle over democratic standards. 

In an interview on state radio, Prime Minister Viktor Orban acknowledged that Ukraine needs help to pay for the functioning of essential services but emphasized that he would block the EU's plan of joint borrowing to fund the package. 

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WNU Editor: Hungary's PM is saying no to an EU plan to borrow this money for future European generations to pay. Not surprising. The EU is now coming back at Hungary and outlining what the consequences of a veto will mean .... EU Commission proposes blocking billions in funds to Hungary (AP). 

Hungarian PM Orban Says He Will Veto An EU Plan To Provide An €18 billion Aid Package To Ukraine In 2023  

Orban says Hungary will stick to veto of EU-Ukraine aid plan -- AP

Orban Reiterates Opposition to Joint Ukraine Aid, Global Tax -- Bloomberg  

Orban says Hungary will stick to veto of EU-Ukraine aid plan -- The Independent  

Hungary to stick to veto of EU-Ukraine aid plan, says Orban -- The New Voice of Ukraine  

Brussels Bailing Out Ukraine Will Ruin Europe For Generations, Hungary's Orban Warns -- Zero Hedge

Hungary Is The Only EU Member Still Receiving Russian Natural Gas

Zero Hedge/Remix News: Hungary Is Now The Only EU State Still Receiving Russian Gas 

With three of the four pipelines delivering Russian natural gas to Europe out of commission, Hungary is now the only EU member state still receiving Russian gas, Forbes Hungary writes. 

There are four pipelines that could supply Russian natural gas to Europe: 

1) Nord Stream 1, with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year (deliveries on this one were halted by Russia); 

2) Nord Stream 2, with an identical capacity of 55 bcm (this one never became operational after the German government refused to approve it in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine). 

3) Yamal Europe, the longest pipeline (4,107 kilometers) supplies gas from the Yamal Peninsula in Western Siberia, terminating in Germany, and has a capacity of 33 bcm. Deliveries were halted by Russia in May. 

4) Turk Stream, delivering gas from Russia under the Black Sea and through the Balkans, has a capacity of 31.5 bcm and is the only pipeline still in operation. It terminates in Hungary, meaning that as of now, Hungary is the only EU member state still receiving Russian natural gas. 

Due to the huge income Russia has made from soaring gas prices, coupled with a massive reduction in other trade with Europe, Russia has no interest in completely shutting down these pipelines.  

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WNU Editor: If this continues Hungary will be the envy of Europe later this winter. The costs may be high, but they at least have natural gas.

Hungary Says It Will Not Support Any New EU Energy Sanctions Against Russia

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's opposition to EU sanctions on Russia is well-known. (file photo)

Reuters: Hungary cannot support any new EU energy sanctions against Russia - govt 

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary cannot support the European Union's planned eighth round of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine if those contain energy sanctions, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said on Thursday. 

The EU executive proposed on Wednesday fresh sanctions against Russia, including tighter trade restrictions, more individual blacklistings and an oil price cap for third countries. 

The proposed sanctions fall short of harder-hitting measures, including a ban on importing Russian diamonds, sought by Russia hawks Poland and the three Baltic countries. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's opposition to EU sanctions on Russia is well-known .... Hungary's Orban Blames EU's Russia Sanctions For Energy Crisis, Wants Them Scrapped (RFE). 

Hungary Says It Will Not Support Any New EU Energy Sanctions Against Russia 

Hungary PM Orban says EU sanctions on Russia have 'backfired' -- Reuters 

EU state threatens to block new anti-Russia sanctions -- RT  

Hungary warns that it will not support new EU sanctions against Russia if they affect energy -- News 360

EU Declares Hungary Is No Longer A Democracy. Recommends Suspending $7.5 Billion In Funding

 

CNN: Hungary can ‘no longer be considered a full democracy,’ says EU Parliament 

Hungary can “no longer be considered a full democracy,” the European Parliament said in a statement following its adoption of a report on Thursday. 

The Parliament said the situation has “deteriorated such that Hungary has become an ‘electoral autocracy.’” 

“Overall, [The European Parliament] expresses regrets that the lack of decisive EU action has contributed to a breakdown of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary, and turning one of its member states into hybrid regime of electoral autocracy,” the report read. 

“There is increasing consensus among experts that Hungary is no longer a democracy,” the report added.  

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WNU Editor: The double standard that is now at play in the EU is quite a sight to see. Almost 3 weeks ago the German Foreign Minister made it very clear that she did not care what her voters think .... Baerbock - "No matter what my german voters think" (YouTube). So is Germany no longer a democracy? 

Hungary has responded to the EU .... Hungary's Ruling Party Reacts Angrily To European Parliament Ruling Country Not A 'Full Democracy' (RFE). 

EU Declares Hungary Is No Longer A Democracy. Recommends Suspending $7.5 Billion In Funding  

EU lawmakers declare that Hungary is no longer a democracy -- AP  

EU parliament declares that Hungary — beloved of Trump and Tucker Carlson — no longer counts as a democracy -- Insider 

EU Recommends Withholding Funds for Hungary Over Graft Concerns -- Bloomberg

EU proposes suspending billions in funds to Hungary -- DW  

EU recommends suspending billions in funding to Hungary -- RT

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Says EU Heading For ‘War Economy’

Viktor Orban attends a joint press conference with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna, Austria, July 28, 2022 © AFP / Alex Halada  

RT: EU heading for ‘war economy’ – Orban 

The Hungarian leader said his citizens want Brussels to stay out of the country’s energy policy 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has lambasted an EU plan to reduce gas consumption by 15%. Unless the bloc pushes for peace in Ukraine, he warned that Europe will face an energy crisis, a recession, and political turmoil. 

Speaking following a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Vienna on Thursday, Orban said that Hungary determines its own energy policy, and any attempt by Brussels to interfere with this “will not find favor with the Hungarians.”  

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WNU Editor: Orban is not the only one talking about a war economy in the EU .... French President Macron Says France Is Now On A "War Economy" Footing (June 14, 2022).

Hungary Declares 'Energy Emergency'

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives for the European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium, in May 2022 [Johanna Geron/Reuters]  

Reuters: Hungary Orders Export Ban on Fuels, Curbs Utility Price Caps 

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government has ordered an export ban on fuels like gas and scrapped a years-long cap on utility prices for higher-usage households, a senior aide said on Wednesday. 

The measures, which also include a plan to boost domestic gas output to 2 billion cubic metres from 1.5 billion, will take effect from August to ensure the continued supply of energy in winter, Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas said. 

Gas supplies to Europe have tightened and fuel costs have soared since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February and subsequent sanctions, leaving countries scrambling to refill storage and diversify supply channels.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Hungary is doing what preppers are always doing. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse. 

Hungary Declares 'Energy Emergency'  

Hungary declares ‘energy emergency’ over threat of shortages -- AP  

Filling Up Gas Reserves Is Key to Economic Stability, Finance Minister Warns -- Hungary Today  

Hungary declares ‘energy emergency’ over threat of fuel shortages -- Al Jazeera

Hungary Declares State Of Emergency Over War In Ukraine

 

Daily Mail: Hungary's pro-Putin Prime Minister Viktor Orban announces new State of Emergency due to concerns over Ukraine – replacing the Covid one that would have expired next week 

* Hungary has declared a legal 'state of danger' in response to war in Ukraine 

* Orban's party passed a constitutional amendment to allow the declaration 

* The government can now enact laws by decree without parliamentary oversight 

* A similar measure introduced amid Covid was set to expire on June 1 

* Despite Hungary's NATO membership, Orban has maintained strong relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin 

Hungary has declared a legal 'state of danger' in response to Russia's war in neighboring Ukraine, the prime minister announced Tuesday, allowing the right-wing nationalist government to take special measures without the participation of the legislature. 

In a video on social media, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the war in Ukraine represents 'a constant threat to Hungary' which was 'putting our physical security at risk and threatening the energy and financial security of our economy and families.'  

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WNU Editor: Hungarian Prime Minister Orban believes that the world is on the brink of an economic crisis brought on by the Ukraine war. Here is an easy prediction. In the coming months many European governments (and governments outside of Europe) are going to be doing the same thing. 

Hungary Declares State Of Emergency Over War In Ukraine  

Hungary announces ‘state of danger’ over war in Ukraine -- AP  

Hungary's government gets emergency powers due to Ukraine war, PM Orban says -- Reuters  

Orban Declares State of Emergency in New Government's First Move -- Bloomberg  

Hungary's Orban gains new powers to rule by decree -- DPA  

Hungary: Orban says gov’t to assume new powers over Ukraine war -- Al Jazeera

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Wins Re-election With An Overwhelming Majority

 

Daily Mail: Viktor Orban claims victory in Hungarian elections: Populist Prime Minister says win is so big 'you can see it from the moon' after refusing to condemn Putin and slamming Zelensky 

* A partial vote count has predicted a strong lead for Viktor Orban's Fidesz party 

* Victory would give Orban mandate for a fourth term as Hungary's Prime Minister 

* Orban told party officials and supporters that Sunday's vote was a 'huge victory' 

* With 75 per cent of votes tallied, Fidesz-led coalition has 54.5 per cent of votes 

* Voters have been electing lawmakers to the country's 199-seat parliament 

Populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed victory in Hungary's elections saying his win is so big 'you can see it from the moon'. 

A partial vote count has predicted a strong lead for Orban's Fidesz party, which would give him a mandate for a fourth term. 

In a ten minute speech to party officials and supporters at an election night event in Budapest, Orban addressed a crowd cheering 'Viktor!' and declared it was a 'huge victory' for his party. 

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WNU Editor: The election campaign was dominated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Orban's lengthy association with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his victory speech, Orban called Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky one of the "opponents" that he had to overcome during the campaign .... Viktor Orban, Hungary's authoritarian leader, calls Zelensky an 'opponent' after winning reelection (CNN).

 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Wins Re-election With An Overwhelming Majority  

Hungary’s pro-Putin PM Orban claims victory in national vote -- AP  

Hungary's authoritarian leader Viktor Orban wins fourth term in general election -- France 24  

Hungary election: Nationalist PM Viktor Orban claims victory -- BBC  

Orban scores crushing victory as Ukraine war solidifies support -- Reuters  

Hungary: Orban declares victory in parliamentary election -- DW  

Viktor Orbán wins fourth consecutive term as Hungary’s prime minister -- The Guardian  

Nationalist Viktor Orban declares victory in Hungary election -- CNBC