PM Orban: We cannot count on the left wing

Hungary is in the top 25 countries of the world in terms of its coronavirus defence, PM Viktor Orban told Hungary s public radio in his regular Friday morning interview.

POLITICS SEPTEMBER 18. 2020 08:15

Viktor Orban said that as the second wave arrived, he would conduct personal inpections at the country s hospitals. After Hungary s left-wing press began spreading news that there s not enough capacity, he went ahead to ask and assess and he can confirm that there is enough capacity.

PM Orban said the government had a military strategy-like action plan on how Hungary s healthcare can adapt to the situation. In case there is a shortage of doctors and nurses, they also have an implementation plan, he added. He said if, all of a sudden, there was a spike in the number of patients who need hospital treatment, the country has some 10,000 beds suitable to treat coronavirus patients, with an additional 20,000 beds that can also be made available.

Defence during the second wave will be completely different from that of the first. The government is no longer asking everyone to stay home, because the healthcare system is prepared. We are now asking people to abide by the rules, because the country needs to function.

„The task today is not for everyone to stay at home,” Mr Orban said.

The premier stressed that although the country cannot be sealed airtight in view of the pandemic, border protection remains important. He added that the virus had been imported from abroad.

Pointing out that every international analysis regarding the first wave had placed Hungary among the top 25 countries in the world in terms of defence against the virus, PM Orban thanked everyone who observed the rules.

He said the Hungarian government would make decisions based on the proposals of the Operative Board. He opined that, just like before, the Hungarian left cannot be counted on, so he asked them not to launch attacks against the epidemiological experts, as that is tantamount to attacking the whole country.

„If we can t count on them in the defence, like we know we can t, then at least they shouldn t attack the epidemiologists,” he noted.

Mr Orban said a political dispute seems to be evolving. It s generated by the left with the active involvement of the media.

The Hungarian premier asked everyone to prepare for a tough autumn as the number of daily infections will soon exceed one thousand. Young people need to be careful not to infect their parents and their grandparents, he warned.

„We must observe the rules to protect the elderly,” he stressed.

Viktor Orban went on to say that the Operative Board in charge of protecting the economy will make decisions on the current moratorium on loan repayments, adding that repayments have been suspended until 1 January. The monthly instalments will not increase even after 1 January, he said, adding that the board will need to decide how to proceed with the programme.

PM Orban was of the opinion that defence was necessary as long as there are no vaccines. During a recent conversation with US President Donald Trump, he learned that an American vaccine will likely be available this year, and President Trump assured him that Hungary will also get some.

„We follow all research activities across the globe with heightened attention, and we have also contributed to European research projects,” he noted.

He said he saw some problems, as well as opportunities, on the economic front. Before the outbreak of the disease the number of employed stood at 4.458, while in August more than 4.5 million people had jobs. This means employment figures are not decreasing but increasing, compared to January, and the number of employed in August was 144 thousand higher than during April s trough. 

„We need to prepare for another labour shortage in the country,” he said.

Speaking about tourism in the capital Budapest, Mr Orban said it was different from the French or Italian models. It mostly relies on foreigners, as 93 percent of guest nights come from foreigners. The capital s hospitality sector is built around foreigners and it will be heavily impacted by the pandemic, so a special programme is needed.

POLITICS

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coronavirus, Hungary, viktor orban