Nehammer’s comrades in arms
Hungary has been a member of NATO since 1999 and of the EU since 2004. So far, Orban has supported the Union’s sanctions policy, but forced an exception for Russian oil imports with a threat of veto. Orban still maintains a fairly good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is necessary to negotiate with Moscow and not arm Ukraine, he said in his speech.
Orban has ruled since 2010. He is accused of undermining democracy and the rule of law, which is why he is also in conflict with the EU. Several cases are currently ongoing against Hungary, including one under the new Rule of Law Mechanism, which could lead to the withdrawal of EU funding. On Thursday, he will be received in Vienna by Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), who previously stressed being in harmony with Orbán on migration policy. “Both countries are severely affected by irregular migration, which we want to fight together,” said Nehammer.
racist vocabulary
Also because of Orban’s repressive asylum policy, Hungary has suffered several defeats before the European Court of Justice (CJ). In his speech, Orban insisted on protecting Europe from the onslaught of “Islamic civilization” with border fences and deportations. In addition to this Islamophobic statement, Orban also used openly racist vocabulary and arguments in his speech.
“There is a world where the people of Europe mix with those who come from outside Europe,” he said. “It’s a mixed-race world.” On the other hand, there is the Carpathian Basin, where European peoples like Hungarians, Romanians, Slovaks and others mixed. “We’re ready to blend in, but we don’t want to become multiracial,” Orban emphasized.
The concept used by National Socialists, among others, that there are different human races is scientifically untenable and part of racist worldviews. This ideology erroneously attributes characteristics to entire groups of people based on physical differences, such as skin color.
Orban performed in the Romanian town of Baile Tusnad (Hungarian: Tusnadfürdö), which is located in a compact Hungarian settlement area in Transylvania. Until 1918, the region belonged to Hungary. The Fidesz party has maintained a summer academy there for over three decades. Orban, who is a co-founder of Fidesz, traditionally delivers the closing speech there. At first, Romanian nationalists tried to disrupt Orban’s speech. They shouted: “Transylvania will remain Romanian soil forever!” The Romanian police took them away.