The only powers to delegate within Brussels remit are those where we can be certain that they will be handled better than by national governments, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told Hungary s public service radio in an interview.

Nearly 50 thousand healthcare workers have already been vaccinated in Hungary, Viktor Orban said, adding that the inoculation of residents in care homes has also begun. He stressed that vaccines are safe and necessary, adding that he will get his jab as soon as it is his turn.

He announced that the Hungarian government will extend the current restrictive measures until 1 February.

„All lives matter”, he emphasized.

The Hungarian premier pointed out that Hungary s crisis management was different from the West s, adding that predictability builds trust.

Viktor Orban noted that there is still significant pressure on the healthcare system. He said each country treats death statistics differently, making it difficult to compare figures. As he sees it, the difference in the mortality figures of 2019 and 2020 clearly reveals the number of fatalitis that can be attributed to the virus. Based on these numbers, Hungary has fared better than Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands or Sweden.

Orban noted that the procurement of vaccines by the European Union is very slow, so Hungary is in talks with Israel, Russia and China.

„We are not envious, so we can congratulate the Brits,” the PM said, referring to the fact that the UK has vaccinated more people than the European Union. He added that he will ask Brussels where the vaccines for Europe are.

Regarding the vaccination plan, he said it will be considered a success once the elderly will have been vaccinated and we will have saved as many lives as we could. Viktor Orban stressed that vulnerable citizens, whose lives „could be taken by the virus” must be vaccinated first.

The Hungarian prime minister emphasized the extraordinary work carried out by healthcare employees. He said Hungarians can be proud of the doctors and nurses who saved many lives of healed many people. He also highlighted that schools have switched quickly and efficiently to digital education. Viktor Orban also said that Hungarian people show an outstanding level of cooperation.

Viktor Orban called it a bad policy for countries to do everything through Brussels. Instead of the member states procuring the vaccine for themselves, they have delegated this task to Brussels. Hungary has pre-ordered 17 million doses, PM Orban said, adding that only those powers should be transferred to Brussels that are certain to be handled better there than by national governments.

Speaking about the economy, Mr Orban said 26 thousand people have lost their jobs because of the pandemic, and those who say otherwise are not talking about reality. He stressed that the government will create more jobs than are destroyed by the virus, adding that he wants everyone to have a successful year this year. The main policy is to support investments, as this is the only way to create jobs, the Hungarian premier said, emphasizing that the government will reintate the 13th month pension.

„Hungary s crisis management stands a very good chance of being classed among those that will fare well in 2021,” PM Orban said.  

With regard to the events that unfolded at the US Capitol, he stressed that Hungary does not pass judgments on other countries and will not interfere into their affairs. He said he had trust that they will be able to resolve their problems and recalled that the left also had a few violent rallies in Hungary, where the parliament building had to be protected by a line of police officers. PM Orban expressed his sympathies to the victims families.

„We, Hungarians, have managed to resolve this. I hope they will be able to find a solution in America, too,” he said.