Protecting borders from illegal migration is not a difficult task if the political will exists, Prime Minister Orbán’s Political Director Balázs Orbán said in an interview with Nigel Farage, leader of the UK’s Reform Party and member of parliament, broadcast Wednesday evening on GB News.
Orbán stated that Hungary’s example shows how “incredibly low” levels of illegal migration can be maintained. “The rule is quite simple: the country must be capable of defending its borders, and if it is willing to do so, achieving this result is fairly easy,” he said. He stressed that the willingness to act is what is missing in much of Europe and across the Western world.
The political director recalled that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had already warned in 2015 of the importance of border protection. “Now many other politicians talk about it, but in reality, no one takes the necessary steps,” he remarked.
He explained that Hungary had fundamentally altered its legal framework, reversing what he described as a liberal system based on international and EU law that had encouraged inflows. “Hungary had to regain control and make clear that those attempting illegal entry lose the right to claim asylum status,” he said.
Responding to Farage’s mention of fines imposed on Hungary by the European Court of Justice, Orbán Balázs underlined that Hungary is working to defend Europe’s borders, yet is punished for it. “The task of the EU should be to protect its member states, not obstruct their efforts to secure Europe’s borders,” he concluded.
