Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb&aacute;n is currently on holiday in the southern Indian state of Kerala. This trip has gained attention in the recent week and sparked speculations about Viktor&rsquo;s health.&nbsp;
Orban took his time to clear the confusion and answered a few questions during his visit in an interview with a Hungarian tabloid newspaper, Blikk.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Orban spotted in India&nbsp;</h2>
Orban has been seen spending time on a holiday in India, and his posts have been surfacing over the internet. As per Indian newspaper, Manorama Online, the Hungarian prime minister is on a private tour with his wife, Anik&oacute; L&eacute;vai, and two of their daughters.
He was also seen in a photo posted by an Indian man, Saleem Ibn Majeed, on the social media platform Facebook. The photo showed Orban with four tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw) drivers who took foreign tourists on tours of the region for many years and helped the Hungary PM explore the Fort of Kochi, a historical site where explorer Vasco da Gama was buried.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5p9wp5l-bgu35umy-htnujwn7">
Hungary's PM Viktor Orb&aacute;n in India's Kerala for holidays. Pic: Blikk media/ Saleem Ibn Majeed <a href="https://t.co/JFvD896S4C">https://t.co/JFvD896S4C</a> <a href="https://t.co/LFqeXii0c0">pic.twitter.com/LFqeXii0c0</a>
&mdash; Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1877256238473290091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
Orb&aacute;n, speaking to Blikk, said, &ldquo;My wife, two daughters, and I are in southern India. We chose this country for two reasons: the past and the future.&rdquo; Orb&aacute;n expressed admiration for the explorer Vasco da Gama, whose work inspired him during his youth. &ldquo;In Kochi, where I am now, Vasco da Gama died, whom I liked from the novels of my youth. I &lsquo;followed&rsquo; in his footsteps. My favourite explorer, as important as Columbus," Orb&aacute;n shared.
Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hungary-pm-defies-icc-arrest-warrant-by-inviting-netanyahu-over-israel-pm-responds-778377" rel="dofollow"> Hungary PM defies ICC arrest warrant by inviting Netanyahu over, Israel PM responds</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Speculations about Orban's health amid holiday plan&nbsp;</h2>
Amid the ongoing speculations regarding his health, Orban stated, &ldquo;I read all kinds of nonsense being spouted. That is the way it is. But nothing else has happened; I am as healthy as a horse. Do not get your hopes up,&rdquo; he made a joke in response to the rumours.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The Prime Minister also explained his timing for the trip, stating, &ldquo;Hungary&rsquo;s EU Presidency ended on January 1. I took my leave the next day, and we were ready to go.&rdquo; While he noted that the holiday wasn&rsquo;t exactly restful, he found it refreshing to be away from the routine. &ldquo;We are not getting much rest here in India either, but it is nice to get out of the rut at home,&rdquo; he said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-europe-will-need-to-rethink-its-support-of-ukraine-if-trump-wins-says-hungary-pm-772941" rel="dofollow">US election: Europe will need to rethink its support to Ukraine if Trump wins, says Hungary PM</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Cultural perspective&nbsp; on India</h2>
The PM shared his thoughts on India as a holiday destination. &ldquo;India is not known for being a tourist paradise. If you want luxury, go to an Austrian ski resort or the Bahamas. If you are interested in culture, come to India,&rdquo; he concluded.
Orb&aacute;n also confirmed that he would be returning to work soon and would be back on Kossuth Radio on January 17 for his usual morning interview. "The other reason we are here is the future. India&rsquo;s economy is poised for explosive growth,&rdquo; he remarked, Orban said.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World: Orban stated, “I read all kinds of nonsense being spouted. That is the way it is. But nothing else has happened; I am as healthy as a horse. Do not get your hopes up.” 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is currently on holiday in the southern Indian state of Kerala. This trip has gained attention in the recent week and sparked speculations about Viktor’s health. Orban took his time to clear the confusion and answered a few questions during his visit in an interview with a Hungarian tabloid newspaper, Blikk. Orban spotted in India Orban has been seen spending time on a holiday in India, and his posts have been surfacing over the internet. As per Indian newspaper, Manorama Online, the Hungarian prime minister is on a private tour with his wife, Anikó Lévai, and two of their daughters. He was also seen in a photo posted by an Indian man, Saleem Ibn Majeed, on the social media platform Facebook. The photo showed Orban with four tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw) drivers who took foreign tourists on tours of the region for many years and helped the Hungary PM explore the Fort of Kochi, a historical site where explorer Vasco da Gama was buried. Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán in India's Kerala for holidays. Pic: Blikk media/ Saleem Ibn Majeed https://t.co/JFvD896S4C pic.twitter.com/LFqeXii0c0 — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 9, 2025 Orbán, speaking to Blikk, said, “My wife, two daughters, and I are in southern India. We chose this country for two reasons: the past and the future.” Orbán expressed admiration for the explorer Vasco da Gama, whose work inspired him during his youth. “In Kochi, where I am now, Vasco da Gama died, whom I liked from the novels of my youth. I ‘followed’ in his footsteps. My favourite explorer, as important as Columbus," Orbán shared. Also Read: Hungary PM defies ICC arrest warrant by inviting Netanyahu over, Israel PM responds Speculations about Orban's health amid holiday plan Amid the ongoing speculations regarding his health, Orban stated, “I read all kinds of nonsense being spouted. That is the way it is. But nothing else has happened; I am as healthy as a horse. Do not get your hopes up,” he made a joke in response to the rumours.” The Prime Minister also explained his timing for the trip, stating, “Hungary’s EU Presidency ended on January 1. I took my leave the next day, and we were ready to go.” While he noted that the holiday wasn’t exactly restful, he found it refreshing to be away from the routine. “We are not getting much rest here in India either, but it is nice to get out of the rut at home,” he said. Also Read: US election: Europe will need to rethink its support to Ukraine if Trump wins, says Hungary PM Cultural perspective on India The PM shared his thoughts on India as a holiday destination. “India is not known for being a tourist paradise. If you want luxury, go to an Austrian ski resort or the Bahamas. If you are interested in culture, come to India,” he concluded. Orbán also confirmed that he would be returning to work soon and would be back on Kossuth Radio on January 17 for his usual morning interview. "The other reason we are here is the future. India’s economy is poised for explosive growth,” he remarked, Orban said. (With inputs from agencies)

Hungary PM Orban takes break in India amid health speculations

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, on Friday (Nov 22) extended an invitation to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the European country in open defiance of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). While speaking to state radio, Orban accused the ICC of “interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes.”

Netanyahu in response thanked Orban for “moral clarity” on the issue, saying Hungary stood strong “by the side of justice and truth”.

The ICC issued the arrest warrant against Netanyahu, and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant earlier on Thursday, accusing the duo of using “starvation as a method of warfare”. The move was immediately slammed by like-minded nations like the United States, Austria and Argentina but Hungary went a step ahead by inviting Netanyahu over.

Orban termed the ICC’s warrant “outrageously impudent” and “cynical,” saying he would “defy this decision, and it will have no consequences for him.”

It is to be noted that ICC member nations are required to abide by the warrants and detain suspects the moment they set foot on their soil. However, the court lacks the ways to enforce its rulings.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj6v866i_CJAxU63jgGHdCtMJoQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-deploy-additional-military-assets-to-west-asia-in-warning-to-iran-772642" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-deploy-additional-military-assets-to-west-asia-in-warning-to-iran-772642&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj6v866i_CJAxU63jgGHdCtMJoQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">US to deploy additional military assets to West Asia in warning to Iran</a>

The United Kingdom and European Union&nbsp;have said they are bound by the ICC charter and hinted that they would detain Netanyahu once he enters their territory.

“The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law,” a statement by Downing Street read. The EU on Thursday said the warrants against Israeli leaders were not political and should be respected.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj6v866i_CJAxU63jgGHdCtMJoQxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/only-a-multi-national-peace-initiative-can-arrest-the-spiralling-west-asia-crisis-763838" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/only-a-multi-national-peace-initiative-can-arrest-the-spiralling-west-asia-crisis-763838&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj6v866i_CJAxU63jgGHdCtMJoQxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE">Only a multi-national peace initiative can arrest the spiralling West Asia crisis</a>

“This decision is a binding decision and all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are binding to implement this court decision,” said the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Israel on the other hand labelled the move as “antisemitic” in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, on Friday (Nov 22) extended an invitation to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the European country in open defiance of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, on Friday (Nov 22) extended an invitation to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the European country in open defiance of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). While speaking to state radio, Orban accused the ICC of “interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes.” Netanyahu in response thanked Orban for “moral clarity” on the issue, saying Hungary stood strong “by the side of justice and truth”. The ICC issued the arrest warrant against Netanyahu, and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant earlier on Thursday, accusing the duo of using “starvation as a method of warfare”. The move was immediately slammed by like-minded nations like the United States, Austria and Argentina but Hungary went a step ahead by inviting Netanyahu over. Orban termed the ICC’s warrant “outrageously impudent” and “cynical,” saying he would “defy this decision, and it will have no consequences for him.” It is to be noted that ICC member nations are required to abide by the warrants and detain suspects the moment they set foot on their soil. However, the court lacks the ways to enforce its rulings. Also read: US to deploy additional military assets to West Asia in warning to Iran The United Kingdom and European Union have said they are bound by the ICC charter and hinted that they would detain Netanyahu once he enters their territory. “The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law,” a statement by Downing Street read. The EU on Thursday said the warrants against Israeli leaders were not political and should be respected. Also read: Only a multi-national peace initiative can arrest the spiralling West Asia crisis “This decision is a binding decision and all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are binding to implement this court decision,” said the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Israel on the other hand labelled the move as “antisemitic” in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Hungary PM defies ICC arrest warrant by inviting Netanyahu over, Israel PM responds

Thousands of people protested in Budapest near Parliament as they want Prime Minister Viktor Orban to resign. The protests were triggered after a former government insider accused a senior-aged member trying to interfere in the Graft case.

Hungary: Thousands take to streets, want PM Viktor Orban to resign

The European Commission, on Wednesday (Feb 7) launched legal action against Hungary’s controversial “sovereignty law” which the ruling Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban said was necessary to protect Budapest from foreign political interference.&nbsp;

<h2>What did the EU say?</h2>

The legislation, “protecting national sovereignty,” was led by Orban’s ruling party and approved by the Hungarian parliament in mid-December. It allows authorities to investigate and prosecute people accused of undermining the country’s sovereignty.

The European Commission, EU’s executive arm, on Wednesday, said that it has sent Hungary a formal notice that it would open an infringement procedure over the law, which it&nbsp;also said violates the 27-nation bloc’s democratic values and fundamental rights.

Brussels considers Hungary’s new law several elements of EU law, “in particular when it comes to the principle of democracy and the electoral rights of EU citizens,” said commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hungary-pm-blocks-52-billion-eu-aid-to-ukraine-as-bloc-opens-membership-talks-669823">Hungary PM blocks $54 billion EU aid to Ukraine as bloc opens membership talks</a>

Meanwhile, critics have called the recent law the Orban-led nationalist government’s latest bid to silence opponents ahead of crucial European Parliament elections and Hungarian municipal elections in June.&nbsp;

The legislation came as the incumbent PM’s government has repeatedly clashed with the EU over democratic rights in Hungary.&nbsp;

Budapest has two months to respond to the letter of formal notice. The letter of formal notice is the first step in the infringement procedure and can lead to a lawsuit and daily fines before the European Court of Justice.&nbsp;

<h2>About the ‘sovereignty law’</h2>

The new law’s implementation rests on the “Office for the Defence of Sovereignty,” which can collect information on individuals or groups that receive foreign funding and are perceived to influence the country’s political debate and electoral processes.

The separate authority can also punish banned foreign financing for parties or groups running for election with up to three years in prison.&nbsp;

Notably, the provisions under the law have been called broad but vague and importantly it lacks judicial oversight, which has raised serious concerns from independent media outlets and rights groups.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hungary-dismisses-museum-director-for-exposing-children-to-lgbt-content-655929">Hungary dismisses museum director for exposing children to LGBT content</a>

“The setup of a new authority with wide-ranging powers and a strict regime of monitoring, enforcement and sanctioning also risks to seriously harm the democracy,” said Hipper, during a press conference in Brussels.&nbsp;

Orban’s ruling Fidesz party has argued that the law will end “electoral trickery” amid accusations that opposition parties in Hungary received funds from a US-based NGO in the run-up to the 2022 elections.

The United States had previously criticised the law calling it “draconian” and said that it was “inconsistent with our shared values of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The European Commission, on Wednesday (Feb 7) launched legal action against Hungary’s controversial “sovereignty law” which the ruling Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban said was necessary to protect Budapest from foreign political interference.

The European Commission, on Wednesday (Feb 7) launched legal action against Hungary’s controversial “sovereignty law” which the ruling Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban said was necessary to protect Budapest from foreign political interference. What did the EU say? The legislation, “protecting national sovereignty,” was led by Orban’s ruling party and approved by the Hungarian parliament in mid-December. It allows authorities to investigate and prosecute people accused of undermining the country’s sovereignty. The European Commission, EU’s executive arm, on Wednesday, said that it has sent Hungary a formal notice that it would open an infringement procedure over the law, which it also said violates the 27-nation bloc’s democratic values and fundamental rights. Brussels considers Hungary’s new law several elements of EU law, “in particular when it comes to the principle of democracy and the electoral rights of EU citizens,” said commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper. ALSO READ | Hungary PM blocks $54 billion EU aid to Ukraine as bloc opens membership talks Meanwhile, critics have called the recent law the Orban-led nationalist government’s latest bid to silence opponents ahead of crucial European Parliament elections and Hungarian municipal elections in June. The legislation came as the incumbent PM’s government has repeatedly clashed with the EU over democratic rights in Hungary. Budapest has two months to respond to the letter of formal notice. The letter of formal notice is the first step in the infringement procedure and can lead to a lawsuit and daily fines before the European Court of Justice. About the ‘sovereignty law’ The new law’s implementation rests on the “Office for the Defence of Sovereignty,” which can collect information on individuals or groups that receive foreign funding and are perceived to influence the country’s political debate and electoral processes. The separate authority can also punish banned foreign financing for parties or groups running for election with up to three years in prison. Notably, the provisions under the law have been called broad but vague and importantly it lacks judicial oversight, which has raised serious concerns from independent media outlets and rights groups. ALSO READ | Hungary dismisses museum director for exposing children to LGBT content “The setup of a new authority with wide-ranging powers and a strict regime of monitoring, enforcement and sanctioning also risks to seriously harm the democracy,” said Hipper, during a press conference in Brussels. Orban’s ruling Fidesz party has argued that the law will end “electoral trickery” amid accusations that opposition parties in Hungary received funds from a US-based NGO in the run-up to the 2022 elections. The United States had previously criticised the law calling it “draconian” and said that it was “inconsistent with our shared values of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law.” (With inputs from agencies)

EU launches legal action against Hungary’s controversial ‘sovereignty law’

Pope Francis used his short time in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday to urge his bishops to embrace diversity and send a message to the country’s hard-right, anti-migrant leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orban, that God is not a strongman who silences enemies and that religious roots, while vital for a country, also allow it to open up and extend “its arms toward everyone.”

The seven-hour visit, ostensibly a spiritual layover to celebrate the concluding Mass of a weeklong international conference on the Eucharist, was the first international trip for Francis since undergoing major surgery this summer. It opened a four-day visit to neighboring Slovakia, and the disparity of time spent in the two countries has prompted Hungarian prelates to lobby for a longer stay and allies of Orban to excoriate the pope, who regularly criticizes “national populism,” for the perceived snub.

Orban has portrayed himself as a defender of Christian Europe, and he has ramped up connections to church traditionalists, many of whom are critical of Francis, before expected elections in April. Some in the Hungarian church worried that Orban would exploit the pope’s visit for electoral gain. His government, they argue, has already essentially bought the independence and the silence of the church by showering it with many millions of dollars in subsidies.

On Sunday, Francis met for about 40 minutes with Orban and with other civil authorities in a gaping hall at the Museum of Fine Arts. The pope and his top foreign policy officials sat without masks and at a considerable distance across from Orban and Hungary’s president, Janos Ader.

But Orban quickly posted photographs of his greeting Francis on his Facebook page, writing that he had asked the pope “not to allow Christian Hungary to perish.” Hungarian media, where Orban’s government holds great sway, splashed the picture of the handshake on their homepages and reported that Orban, who has referred to the influx of migrants to Europe in 2015 as an “invasion,” gave Francis a copy of a letter sent by a 13th-century Hungarian king to the pope at the time. In the letter, the king complained that pleas to the church for help against an invasion from Mongol armies had resulted in only empty words.

The issue of migration apparently did not come up in the meeting, according to the Vatican, but, as anticipated by some of his confidants, the pope addressed the issue head-on in his subsequent meeting in the museum with a group of Hungarian bishops.

“Your country is a place in which people from other populations have long lived together,” he said. “Various ethnicities, minorities, religions and migrants have also transformed this country into a multicultural environment.”

Francis said that at the beginning, “diversity always causes some fear because it puts at risk the acquired security and upsets the achieved stability,” but he added that it was a great opportunity to reach out in brotherhood. “In front of cultural, ethnic, political and religious diversity,” the pope said, “we can have two reactions: close ourselves in a rigid defense of our so-called identity, or open ourselves to meet the other and cultivate together the dream of a fraternal society.”

He said that he wanted the Hungarian church to build new bridges of dialogue, to show, he said, its “true face” and become a “bright symbol for Hungary.”

In Francis’ public remarks — in the Heroes’ Square adjacent to the museum, which was spilling over with tens of thousands of people, including Orban in a front-row seat — the pope seemed to touch on those issues, if in biblical and religious terms.

Appearing strong after having about 13 inches of his colon removed in early July, Francis, 84, spoke about how religious sentiment, with which Orban imbues much of his political talk, “not only invites us to be well rooted, it also raises and extends its arms towards everyone.” He said that while it was important to keep the “roots firm,” it was also important to do so “without defensiveness.”

Francis also seemed to warn against the conflating of religion and politics.

“There is God’s side and the world’s side,” he said. “The difference is not between who is religious or not, but ultimately between the true God and the god of ‘self.’ How distant is the God who quietly reigns on the cross from the false god that we want to reign with power in order to silence our enemies.”

On the early plane ride to Budapest from Rome, Francis told reporters that he was happy to be traveling again, as the coronavirus pandemic and his own health challenges had kept him in the Vatican. “If I’m alive, it’s because bad weeds never die,” he joked. In Budapest, he rode in the so-called popemobile along avenues crowded with faithful waving flags. Hardly anyone on the streets, or in the square, or in the city’s bars or restaurants, for that matter, wore masks, and they all crammed closely together.

But Francis took breaks when he could. When, after his meeting with Orban, he met with Christian and Jewish leaders, he explained that he had to deliver his speech while sitting because “I’m not 15 anymore.”

In that speech, he expressed wariness about “the threat of anti-Semitism still lurking in Europe and elsewhere,” and he frequently used his familiar imagery of building bridges and breaking down walls.

During the pope’s morning meetings, prelates and faithful gathered in the square under hats and white umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun, and five members of the defunct Hapsburg empire, which ruled over Hungary and much of Europe for centuries, stood in a line together on the side of a stage that had been set up for Francis. Orban has appointed two of them as his ambassadors in the hopes of improving access in Western Europe.

Eduard Hapsburg, Orban’s ambassador to the Holy See, who worked with the Vatican to extend the pope’s stay, said he had met Francis at the airport. The pope, he said, told him that Hungarian was the language of heaven because it takes an eternity to learn. Hapsburg said that he had pretended not to know the joke and had laughed.

“I didn’t have the impression of a grim atmosphere,” he said. “It was very cheerful, enjoying very much, and yes, for us it’s incredible.”

His father, Archduke Michael Hapsburg-Lothringen, agreed with the rest of his family that the world unfairly treated Hungary as a pariah. He said he was deeply happy with Orban’s government, its handling of the migrant crisis and its advocacy of Hungary as a Christian nation. “I say we live in paradise,” he said. “Compared to neighbor countries, even. I mean, there is so much confusion.”

But Hungary, under Orban, is increasingly isolated in Europe. And as Francis and Orban met, some of those who had crowded around Heroes’ Square sensed the tension and felt torn between the two.

“For me, Catholicism is one thing, and politics is another,” said Eva Tamar, 34, who came from the Hungarian town of God. “I know what is right in religion, but in real life and in politics, I don’t know who to follow. It’s hard.”

Others clearly knew what side they were on.

Balazs Nacy, 23, an ethnic Hungarian who was born and raised in neighboring Slovakia, said he thought the short stay in Hungary was “a political message.”

“He doesn’t really agree with things happening here in Hungary and what Orban does here,” Nacy said. “They say it’s Christian politics, but I don’t think it’s Christianity what they do here. The pope is sending a message.”

Pope Francis used his short time in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday to urge his bishops to embrace diversity and send a message to the country’s hard-right, anti-migrant leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orban, that God is not a strongman who silences enemies and that religious roots, while vital for a country, also allow it to open up and extend “its arms toward everyone.

Pope Francis used his short time in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday to urge his bishops to embrace diversity and send a message to the country’s hard-right, anti-migrant leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orban, that God is not a strongman who silences enemies and that religious roots, while vital for a country, also allow it to open up and extend “its arms toward everyone.” The seven-hour visit, ostensibly a spiritual layover to celebrate the concluding Mass of a weeklong international conference on the Eucharist, was the first international trip for Francis since undergoing major surgery this summer. It opened a four-day visit to neighboring Slovakia, and the disparity of time spent in the two countries has prompted Hungarian prelates to lobby for a longer stay and allies of Orban to excoriate the pope, who regularly criticizes “national populism,” for the perceived snub. Orban has portrayed himself as a defender of Christian Europe, and he has ramped up connections to church traditionalists, many of whom are critical of Francis, before expected elections in April. Some in the Hungarian church worried that Orban would exploit the pope’s visit for electoral gain. His government, they argue, has already essentially bought the independence and the silence of the church by showering it with many millions of dollars in subsidies. On Sunday, Francis met for about 40 minutes with Orban and with other civil authorities in a gaping hall at the Museum of Fine Arts. The pope and his top foreign policy officials sat without masks and at a considerable distance across from Orban and Hungary’s president, Janos Ader. But Orban quickly posted photographs of his greeting Francis on his Facebook page, writing that he had asked the pope “not to allow Christian Hungary to perish.” Hungarian media, where Orban’s government holds great sway, splashed the picture of the handshake on their homepages and reported that Orban, who has referred to the influx of migrants to Europe in 2015 as an “invasion,” gave Francis a copy of a letter sent by a 13th-century Hungarian king to the pope at the time. In the letter, the king complained that pleas to the church for help against an invasion from Mongol armies had resulted in only empty words. The issue of migration apparently did not come up in the meeting, according to the Vatican, but, as anticipated by some of his confidants, the pope addressed the issue head-on in his subsequent meeting in the museum with a group of Hungarian bishops. “Your country is a place in which people from other populations have long lived together,” he said. “Various ethnicities, minorities, religions and migrants have also transformed this country into a multicultural environment.” Francis said that at the beginning, “diversity always causes some fear because it puts at risk the acquired security and upsets the achieved stability,” but he added that it was a great opportunity to reach out in brotherhood. “In front of cultural, ethnic, political and religious diversity,” the pope said, “we can have two reactions: close ourselves in a rigid defense of our so-called identity, or open ourselves to meet the other and cultivate together the dream of a fraternal society.” He said that he wanted the Hungarian church to build new bridges of dialogue, to show, he said, its “true face” and become a “bright symbol for Hungary.” In Francis’ public remarks — in the Heroes’ Square adjacent to the museum, which was spilling over with tens of thousands of people, including Orban in a front-row seat — the pope seemed to touch on those issues, if in biblical and religious terms. Appearing strong after having about 13 inches of his colon removed in early July, Francis, 84, spoke about how religious sentiment, with which Orban imbues much of his political talk, “not only invites us to be well rooted, it also raises and extends its arms towards everyone.” He said that while it was important to keep the “roots firm,” it was also important to do so “without defensiveness.” Francis also seemed to warn against the conflating of religion and politics. “There is God’s side and the world’s side,” he said. “The difference is not between who is religious or not, but ultimately between the true God and the god of ‘self.’ How distant is the God who quietly reigns on the cross from the false god that we want to reign with power in order to silence our enemies.” On the early plane ride to Budapest from Rome, Francis told reporters that he was happy to be traveling again, as the coronavirus pandemic and his own health challenges had kept him in the Vatican. “If I’m alive, it’s because bad weeds never die,” he joked. In Budapest, he rode in the so-called popemobile along avenues crowded with faithful waving flags. Hardly anyone on the streets, or in the square, or in the city’s bars or restaurants, for that matter, wore masks, and they all crammed closely together. But Francis took breaks when he could. When, after his meeting with Orban, he met with Christian and Jewish leaders, he explained that he had to deliver his speech while sitting because “I’m not 15 anymore.” In that speech, he expressed wariness about “the threat of anti-Semitism still lurking in Europe and elsewhere,” and he frequently used his familiar imagery of building bridges and breaking down walls. During the pope’s morning meetings, prelates and faithful gathered in the square under hats and white umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun, and five members of the defunct Hapsburg empire, which ruled over Hungary and much of Europe for centuries, stood in a line together on the side of a stage that had been set up for Francis. Orban has appointed two of them as his ambassadors in the hopes of improving access in Western Europe. Eduard Hapsburg, Orban’s ambassador to the Holy See, who worked with the Vatican to extend the pope’s stay, said he had met Francis at the airport. The pope, he said, told him that Hungarian was the language of heaven because it takes an eternity to learn. Hapsburg said that he had pretended not to know the joke and had laughed. “I didn’t have the impression of a grim atmosphere,” he said. “It was very cheerful, enjoying very much, and yes, for us it’s incredible.” His father, Archduke Michael Hapsburg-Lothringen, agreed with the rest of his family that the world unfairly treated Hungary as a pariah. He said he was deeply happy with Orban’s government, its handling of the migrant crisis and its advocacy of Hungary as a Christian nation. “I say we live in paradise,” he said. “Compared to neighbor countries, even. I mean, there is so much confusion.” But Hungary, under Orban, is increasingly isolated in Europe. And as Francis and Orban met, some of those who had crowded around Heroes’ Square sensed the tension and felt torn between the two. “For me, Catholicism is one thing, and politics is another,” said Eva Tamar, 34, who came from the Hungarian town of God. “I know what is right in religion, but in real life and in politics, I don’t know who to follow. It’s hard.” Others clearly knew what side they were on. Balazs Nacy, 23, an ethnic Hungarian who was born and raised in neighboring Slovakia, said he thought the short stay in Hungary was “a political message.” “He doesn’t really agree with things happening here in Hungary and what Orban does here,” Nacy said. “They say it’s Christian politics, but I don’t think it’s Christianity what they do here. The pope is sending a message.”

In Orban’s Hungary, pope urges bishops to embrace diversity

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday he has "no time" for scathing criticism by EU allies of sweeping powers he took on this week to tackle the coronavirus threat.

Thirteen European centre-right parties urged their European Peoples Party (EPP) political group to expel Orban's Fidesz party after he assumed emergency powers on Monday.

Orban insists he must rule by decree to tackle the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic. But many, including some of his allies in the EPP, accuse him of a power grab gone too far.

"With all due respect I have no time for this," said Orban in a letter to EPP Secretary-General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White posted on Twitter by one of his ministers Katalin Novak.

"I can hardly imagine any of us having time for fantasies about the intentions of other countries. This seems to me to be a costly luxury these days," he wrote.

"I am ready to discuss this once the pandemic is over," he added.

The Scandinavian, Greek, Belgian, Lithuanian, Czech and Slovak conservatives, who signed Thursday's statement calling for Fidesz to be kicked out of the EPP, do not represent a majority of the group.

But their letter strengthens the hand of party chairman Donald Tusk, the former Polish leader and president of the European Council, who is pushing the EPP to distance itself from Orban.

The signatories call on the EU executive, the European Commission, to "address the situation in Hungary forcefully" and brand Orban's move a "violation of the founding principles of liberal democracy and European values".

Under the emergency law, Orban has the power to rule by decree until his government decides the virus crisis is over.

It also threatens journalists with prison if they publish "falsehoods" about the virus or the government's actions to slow it.

The EPP is the biggest single voting bloc in the European Parliament and the party of both European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday he has "no time" for scathing criticism by EU allies of sweeping powers he took on this week to tackle the coronavirus threat.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday he has "no time" for scathing criticism by EU allies of sweeping powers he took on this week to tackle the coronavirus threat. Thirteen European centre-right parties urged their European Peoples Party (EPP) political group to expel Orban's Fidesz party after he assumed emergency powers on Monday. Orban insists he must rule by decree to tackle the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic. But many, including some of his allies in the EPP, accuse him of a power grab gone too far. "With all due respect I have no time for this," said Orban in a letter to EPP Secretary-General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White posted on Twitter by one of his ministers Katalin Novak. "I can hardly imagine any of us having time for fantasies about the intentions of other countries. This seems to me to be a costly luxury these days," he wrote. "I am ready to discuss this once the pandemic is over," he added. The Scandinavian, Greek, Belgian, Lithuanian, Czech and Slovak conservatives, who signed Thursday's statement calling for Fidesz to be kicked out of the EPP, do not represent a majority of the group. But their letter strengthens the hand of party chairman Donald Tusk, the former Polish leader and president of the European Council, who is pushing the EPP to distance itself from Orban. The signatories call on the EU executive, the European Commission, to "address the situation in Hungary forcefully" and brand Orban's move a "violation of the founding principles of liberal democracy and European values". Under the emergency law, Orban has the power to rule by decree until his government decides the virus crisis is over. It also threatens journalists with prison if they publish "falsehoods" about the virus or the government's actions to slow it. The EPP is the biggest single voting bloc in the European Parliament and the party of both European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Hungary PM 'no time' for European Union allies' criticism

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed Friday US President Donald Trump's isolationist speech at the United Nations as marking a welcome end to American interference in other countries' affairs.

In a robust address to the UN General Assembly, Trump denounced Tuesday a "globalist" view of the world, and signalled his commitment to following an "America First" foreign policy.

"In the last few decades the US took on some kind of role of making the world better that in fact was contrary to American interests, that's what President Trump spoke about," Orban said on Hungarian public radio.

The leader of the world's most powerful country had now "declared the end of that policy," according to the Hungarian premier, one of Trump's biggest supporters in Europe.

Under previous administrations, the "US thought it knows what is good, moral, just, and how the world should be, but we felt that... it wanted to impose its will on the whole world, for example on Hungary too," Orban said.

Trump's approach means the US can now be viewed differently, the prime minister added.

"We don't have to defend ourselves against it, or its incompetent attempts to wield cultural influence, but rather can now try to build a partnership on the basis of interests."

The fiercely nationalist Orban was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump after his shock election victory in 2016, and has regularly praised the US leader's immigration and security policies. &nbsp;

Trump is increasingly regarded globally as "a phenomenon, an icon... someone who represents something much more than himself," he said Friday.

After coming to power in 2010, the maverick Hungarian was often accused by Washington of steering his country away from democratic norms.&nbsp;

Former President Barack Obama and Trump's defeated election rival Hillary Clinton both warned Hungary against clamping down on the judiciary, press, and civil society organisations.&nbsp;

Orban said Friday that US policy towards Hungary in recent decades had often been "unfavourable".

"I suffered so much with (Clinton) that I cannot even tell you," he said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed Friday US President Donald Trump's isolationist speech at the United Nations as marking a welcome end to American interference in other countries' affairs.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed Friday US President Donald Trump's isolationist speech at the United Nations as marking a welcome end to American interference in other countries' affairs. In a robust address to the UN General Assembly, Trump denounced Tuesday a "globalist" view of the world, and signalled his commitment to following an "America First" foreign policy. "In the last few decades the US took on some kind of role of making the world better that in fact was contrary to American interests, that's what President Trump spoke about," Orban said on Hungarian public radio. The leader of the world's most powerful country had now "declared the end of that policy," according to the Hungarian premier, one of Trump's biggest supporters in Europe. Under previous administrations, the "US thought it knows what is good, moral, just, and how the world should be, but we felt that... it wanted to impose its will on the whole world, for example on Hungary too," Orban said. Trump's approach means the US can now be viewed differently, the prime minister added. "We don't have to defend ourselves against it, or its incompetent attempts to wield cultural influence, but rather can now try to build a partnership on the basis of interests." The fiercely nationalist Orban was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump after his shock election victory in 2016, and has regularly praised the US leader's immigration and security policies. Trump is increasingly regarded globally as "a phenomenon, an icon... someone who represents something much more than himself," he said Friday. After coming to power in 2010, the maverick Hungarian was often accused by Washington of steering his country away from democratic norms. Former President Barack Obama and Trump's defeated election rival Hillary Clinton both warned Hungary against clamping down on the judiciary, press, and civil society organisations. Orban said Friday that US policy towards Hungary in recent decades had often been "unfavourable". "I suffered so much with (Clinton) that I cannot even tell you," he said.

Hungary PM hails 'icon' Trump's isolationist UN speech

Hungary may approve a new law as soon as Tuesday that could force a university founded by financier George Soros out of the country, despite a protest against the plan in Budapest and condemnation abroad.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a staunch critic of liberal civil organisations funded by Soros, said on Friday that the Central European University (CEU) had violated regulations in awarding its diplomas, an allegation the college firmly rejected as false.

The CEU, which was founded in Budapest in 1991 following the collapse of communism and has 1,400 students, said it operated lawfully and was accredited to award Hungarian and US&nbsp;degrees.

Thousands of students, professors and supporters rallied in Budapest on Sunday demanding the government withdraw the draft legislation, which they called an attack on freedom of education.

Orban&#39;s government, which faces an election in just over a year, submitted a bill to parliament last week to regulate foreign universities setting several new requirements, which could force the CEU to leave Hungary.

Under the bill, foreign universities must have a campus in Budapest and in their home country. CEU, which only operates in the capital, is the only international college with no arm elsewhere.

Parliament, where Orban&#39;s Fidesz holds a comfortable majority, could approve the new rules on Tuesday in a fast-track procedure, according to a legislative agenda posted online.

A new passage in the bill also stipulates that foreign universities could award degrees in Hungary only if the governments of Hungary, and in CEU&#39;s case, the US, sign an accord on the matter within six months of the law taking effect.

More than 500 leading international academics, including 17 Nobel Laureates have come out in support of CEU, saying it was one of the preeminent centres of thought in the country.

The US&nbsp;State Department said last week that CEU was a &quot;premier academic institution&quot; that promoted academic excellence and critical thinking, and urged the government &quot;to avoid taking any legislative action that would compromise CEU&#39;s operations or independence&quot;.

Soros&#39;s Open Society Foundations, which support democracy, has been active in Hungary for three decades and Soros has financed foreign scholarships for Fidesz politicians, including Orban, at the time when communism collapsed.

(Reuters)

PM Orban claims the Central European University violated regulations. Critics around the world call it a crack down on freedom of education

Hungary may approve a new law as soon as Tuesday that could force a university founded by financier George Soros out of the country, despite a protest against the plan in Budapest and condemnation abroad. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a staunch critic of liberal civil organisations funded by Soros, said on Friday that the Central European University (CEU) had violated regulations in awarding its diplomas, an allegation the college firmly rejected as false. The CEU, which was founded in Budapest in 1991 following the collapse of communism and has 1,400 students, said it operated lawfully and was accredited to award Hungarian and US degrees. Thousands of students, professors and supporters rallied in Budapest on Sunday demanding the government withdraw the draft legislation, which they called an attack on freedom of education. Orban's government, which faces an election in just over a year, submitted a bill to parliament last week to regulate foreign universities setting several new requirements, which could force the CEU to leave Hungary. Under the bill, foreign universities must have a campus in Budapest and in their home country. CEU, which only operates in the capital, is the only international college with no arm elsewhere. Parliament, where Orban's Fidesz holds a comfortable majority, could approve the new rules on Tuesday in a fast-track procedure, according to a legislative agenda posted online. A new passage in the bill also stipulates that foreign universities could award degrees in Hungary only if the governments of Hungary, and in CEU's case, the US, sign an accord on the matter within six months of the law taking effect. More than 500 leading international academics, including 17 Nobel Laureates have come out in support of CEU, saying it was one of the preeminent centres of thought in the country. The US State Department said last week that CEU was a "premier academic institution" that promoted academic excellence and critical thinking, and urged the government "to avoid taking any legislative action that would compromise CEU's operations or independence". Soros's Open Society Foundations, which support democracy, has been active in Hungary for three decades and Soros has financed foreign scholarships for Fidesz politicians, including Orban, at the time when communism collapsed. (Reuters)

Hungary readies vote to force liberal financier Soros' 'premier academic institution' out of country

The European Union should set up a &quot;giant refugee city&quot; on the Libyan coast and process asylum claims there from refugees arriving from other African countries, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday. 
 
Mr Orban, speaking in Vienna after a summit of European and Balkans countries on the refugee crisis, gave few details and said that his own influence in such matters was small. But he insisted that the European Union&#39;s external borders should be under &quot;total control&quot; -- including the Mediterranean border, in which Libya was instrumental.&nbsp; 
 
Libya has a government backed by the UN, but has been in political chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and has splintered into rival armed factions. 
 
The Hungarian leader, who has sparked controversy by vilifying refugees and erected a razor wire fence along his country&#39;s southern border last year, said the Balkans route was closed for now and vowed to keep it that way, but added Europe was still vulnerable from the south. 
 
He said Libya and Egypt were both important partners. 
 
&quot;The EU needs a new Libya policy,&quot; he told a press briefing in Vienna. &quot;Libya is a region whose shores can be used to set sail for Europe because no state exists there.&quot; 
 
Libya&#39;s unity should be preserved, with a new Libyan government set up and brought into a cooperation agreement, he said. 
 
&quot;Unless we preserve Libya as one and stabilise it we cannot create the gigantic refugee city by Libya&#39;s Mediterranean coast,&quot; he said.

(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

The asylum claims of refugees arriving from African countries should be processed there, said Viktor Orban

The European Union should set up a "giant refugee city" on the Libyan coast and process asylum claims there from refugees arriving from other African countries, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday. Mr Orban, speaking in Vienna after a summit of European and Balkans countries on the refugee crisis, gave few details and said that his own influence in such matters was small. But he insisted that the European Union's external borders should be under "total control" -- including the Mediterranean border, in which Libya was instrumental. Libya has a government backed by the UN, but has been in political chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and has splintered into rival armed factions. The Hungarian leader, who has sparked controversy by vilifying refugees and erected a razor wire fence along his country's southern border last year, said the Balkans route was closed for now and vowed to keep it that way, but added Europe was still vulnerable from the south. He said Libya and Egypt were both important partners. "The EU needs a new Libya policy," he told a press briefing in Vienna. "Libya is a region whose shores can be used to set sail for Europe because no state exists there." Libya's unity should be preserved, with a new Libyan government set up and brought into a cooperation agreement, he said. "Unless we preserve Libya as one and stabilise it we cannot create the gigantic refugee city by Libya's Mediterranean coast," he said. (Reuters)

EU should set up giant refugee city in Libya: Hungary PM

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