“Hungary must be sharp, quick, and smart,” PM Orbán stated, emphasizing the need for openness to the world and continuous reflection to seize critical moments for decision-making.
Reflecting on the role of governance, he remarked, “The essence of politics is a sense of timing.” He also explained that while governments have access to a wealth of global knowledge, the true challenge lies in application. “Politics is not the realm of knowledge but the realm of application, and the essence of application is timing,” he explained.
The prime minister underscored that this principle is particularly vital for smaller nations like Hungary. “For a country of Hungary's size, a misstep in timing can be fatal. Looking at the past 150 years of Hungarian history, one can see a recurring issue: the problem of missing the right moment.” He reiterated that Hungary cannot afford to be slow or reliant on external interpretations.
“To live at the level we aspire to and to be worthy of our thousand-year history, Hungary must remain sharp, quick, and smart, always thinking ahead to ensure we don’t miss critical opportunities,” he emphasized.
The prime minister highlighted the foundational role of Hungarian National Bank President György Matolcsy in modernizing Hungary’s economic policies since 2010. “Matolcsy laid the foundations of Hungary’s modern economic policy and later implemented an active central bank strategy,” PM Orbán noted, praising the bank's role in leveraging intellectual capacity and international connections to shape Hungary’s economic strategy.
PM Orbán dismissed the traditional Hungarian tendency to avoid engaging with significant global issues. “For a long time, Hungary's survival strategy was to steer clear of major global shifts, hoping to ride out change quietly. But this approach is no longer viable in today’s world,” he declared.
The prime minister reflected on his personal realization during the 2008-2009 financial crisis that the West’s capacity for self-correction was no longer guaranteed. “For decades, we believed in the West’s ability to renew itself through self-correcting mechanisms, but it became evident that the crisis stemmed from deeper global transformations,” he said.
Highlighting Hungary’s strategic pivot, he declared, “Modernity is no longer a Western category.” He elaborated on the historical interconnectedness of Europe and Asia, describing the region as a natural economic unit disrupted by shifting trade routes, Western dominance, and Cold War-era strategies.
“Eurasia has been held back by three factors: the shift of global trade to the seas, the dominance of Western civilization disrupting balance, and Cold War policies that sought to Westernize the world instead of restoring organic unity,” he explained.
PM Orbán argued that the Western strategy of imposing its model on the world has failed, giving way to an era where Asian nations have proven their ability to rise as independent economic and political powerhouses. “Asia’s states have shown that they can emerge as enduring centers of power. This is the new reality,” he affirmed.
PM Orbán emphasized that the era of liberal progressive dominance in the West has come to a close, marking a significant geopolitical shift. “The idea that the world can be organized solely on Western models, with nations adopting these frameworks in exchange for financial and economic advantages, has failed,” he stated. He highlighted the rise of Asian nations as independent economic and political centers, noting that these states have demonstrated their ability to thrive without relying on Western paradigms. “Asia’s economies are growing four times faster than those of the West, and the global economic center has shifted eastward,” PM Orbán pointed out, again underscoring the reality that modernity is no longer exclusive to the West.
“The next era will be the Eurasian century,” PM Orbán stated, adding that Hungary must define its role within this framework independently of European strategies. “We are the embodiment of the Eurasian idea—a nation from Asia rooted in Europe,” he asserted.
Hungary’s ongoing disputes with Brussels, according to the prime minister, stem from its independent strategy, which acknowledges new realities and leverages Hungary’s unique position. “Hungary must chart its own path in Eurasia without relying on a European strategy,” he declared.
Prime Minister Orbán concluded by urging Europe to break free from its outdated strategic frameworks and embrace Eurasia as a natural partner. “Europe must escape its bubble and recognize that it is part of the Eurasian space. Only by leveraging this reality can we remain competitive with other global power centers,” he emphasized.