Orbán’s nerve

Viktor Orbán is the Prime Minister of Hungary and the president of the national conservative ruling party Fidesz. During Europe’s current immigration crisis Orbán has been the victim of a negative portrayal in the press as Hungary has sought to protect its borders. This past week Orbán reported on the crisis to the Hungarian Parliament. The video below (about 17 minutes) gives his speech with English subtitles. (You can turn the English subtitle on by clicking on the “captions” icon at the right bottom of the video.) Reuters reports briefly on the speech here. It seems to me that this speech is well worth your time; it resonates for us.

Hungary is a member of the European Union; it has been a member since 2004. Part of Orbán’s speech addresses the inadequacy of EU policy to deal with the current crisis. For some background with the correct European perspective, see the Irish Times article “Viktor Orban gets on EU’s collective nerve.” “Collective” must be right; I’m not sure about “nerve.” Orbán seems to have it, not the EU. Reuters takes a look at Orbán’s approach to the current crisis specifically in “Hungary’s Orban plays for high stakes with tough stance on migrants.”

Quotable quote (1): “We take the view that it is the most natural thing in the world to protect one’s own family. That is what we are doing.”

Quotable quote (2): “[I]t is now clear to everyone that Europe is rich but weak. This is the most dangerous combination possible.”

Quotable quote (3): “What is happening now is an invasion.”

Via Pamela Geller.

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