Uniformed officers will never be abandoned by Hungary, Viktor Orban said at the graduation ceremony of the Law Enforcement Faculty at the National University of Public Service (NKE) in Budapest on Saturday. The Hungarian premier prefigured that the officers future would not be easy as there are some surprising and shocking developments, such as "the state and the rule of law retreating from the streets" in many places across the world. Hungary, however, is not, and will not be such a country, he added.

At a ceremony in the Buda Castle, where 102 graduates took their oaths of office, the prime minister said that the officers could not expect to have an easy future in light of today s surprising and shocking developments, hinting at the fact that the healthcare systems of wealthy countries have collapsed in a matter of days, rich countries are headed towards a financial meltdown and an unprecedented wave of violence is scorching through the major cities.

The armed forces and agencies are humiliated both on the streets and in politics, policemen are called racist, and the public honour for uniformed officers is being destroyed and toppled along with public monuments, while „the state and the rule of law are retreating from the streets,” Viktor Orban said.

However, Hungary is not, and will not be, such a country, he stressed. Hungary s finances are fine, its economy is healthy, people can and want to work, and growth reserves are high. „We, Hungarians are black-belt crisis managers. No matter how much chaos and turmoil we have around us, our heads are clean, our arms are strong and there is loyalty in our hearts.” And „you can be sure that we will never abandon our uniformed officers,” who deserve honour and respect, because „they are risking their lives for our security and peaceful homes,” PM Orban stressed in front of the graduates.

The prime minister underlined that in Hungary, every life counts. „The world we love is organised and governed by common sense. Its laws protect the innocent, and not the criminals. And in this world, we protect ourselves from migration and invest our resources in the future of families and children,” Mr Orban said, pointing out that in order for this world to survive and for Hungary to remain an island of peace and security in these turbulent times, the country will need the commitment, perseverance, and honest work of those who had just taken their oaths of office.

He assured the graduates that, in every minute of their service, they will feel that „Hungary is behind you.”

Viktor Orban also spoke about the importance of patriotism, calling it symbolic that the ceremony was held in the Buda Castle, in the centre of the millennial Hungarian state. „At the heart of our country there is legality, and law and order,” he said, adding that these are the greatest proceeds of Hungarian culture, because they lead to a safe, peaceful and free life.

„Everyday patriotism” is a general sentiment that the country where people live is their homeland, of which there is only one. If this uniqueness is lost, people can only continue their lives in a place that belongs to someone else, and where „we are merely tolerated, or accepted, at best,” he explained. „Therefore, we re ready to preserve it from generation to generation, and to fight for it, if need be, because that s the most valuable thing we can bestow on our children,” PM Orban said. He added that the feeling of patriotism „unites us in a common destiny” which is great and exceptional, „only ours, and we all share its greatness.”

This feeling is exceptionally strong in Hungarians, he continued, adding that without it Hungarians would not have been able to protect their country for such a long time. „Only the Hungarian language is capable of condensing the meaning of country, nation, homeland and home into one single word, which is haza,” he emphasized.

He added, however, that if those who had taken an oath today want to be good police officers, firefighters and first reponders, then they will also need self-esteem besides patriotism.

In addition to Hungary s premier, Interior Minister Sandor Pinter and Defence Minister Tibor Benko, as well as the General Staff, were also present at the graduation ceremony.