The prime minister said adapting to global changes had made a new Hungarian economic policy necessary, adding that a new pact on that policy had to be made with Hungarians.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said there was “little chance” of addressing the decline in competitiveness at the European Union level and the focus should be on the national level in a weekly interview with public radio on Friday.
“Our positions are very far apart, which is why Hungary has to focus on itself, not Europe,” Orbán said on Kossuth Radio. He added that the response to Hungary’s presentation of its program for the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the European Parliament during the week had been a “diversion” and the government had weighed matters related to the Hungarian economy for weeks.
The government has drafted a big action plan that will give new impetus to the Hungarian economy, he said. The economic cabinet discussed the plan, which includes measures supporting affordable housing, higher wages and advancing SMEs, on Thursday, he added.
He said the plan would give a “big boost” to the Hungarian economy.
“It doesn’t matter what Europe says, we will stick to our policy of economic neutrality. We will accept from the West and the East only that which benefits Hungarians, while we will reject that which is against our interests,” he added.
Orbán said that the policy could boost GDP growth to 3-6 percent, with tangible results already in 2025.
Orbán said adapting to global changes had made a new Hungarian economic policy necessary, adding that a new pact on that policy had to be made with Hungarians.
He said the economy minister had presented the “trends, numbers and general concept” for the plan on Thursday. A government resolution will assign tasks related to the policy, and concrete measures could be unveiled in 2-3 weeks, he added.
The government needs to consult with interest groups, economic players and “ultimately with the people” on those measures, he said.
