If no more children are born, we will renounce our future, the preservation of Hungarianness, the President of the Republic declared.
Katalin Novák gave a major interview to Mandiner before the 5th Budapest Demographic Summit, in which she talked about the fact that her children go to school by public transport, but in addition to Hungarian family policy, Volodymyr Zelenský, Giorgia Meloni and Sweden's NATO accession were also discussed during the conversation.
"We are organizing the Budapest Demographic Summit for the fifth time, and the interest is growing. This year, we are expecting sixty-five speakers from thirty countries on five continents. It is the largest international forum of pro-family forces. In addition to the heads of state and government, Nobel laureate economist James Heckman, Nick Vujicic, who lives without limbs and inspires many, or psychologist Jordan Peterson, who is worth listening to again, will be here. Thursday and Friday hold so much excitement that I can only recommend: keep an eye on the summit. A lot of mental and spiritual ammunition will be given to whoever joins. And on Saturday, we are expecting everyone for a big family day in the Városliget and five rural towns," said Katalin Novák.
According to the President of the Republic, the most important task of raising children is to create safety, which is a key issue for children.
“You know what to expect, where the boundaries are. Now that we are raising two teenage children in addition to our grown-up son, they also know: there are situations to which my husband and I necessarily do not have the same attitude. They understand that both of our approaches can be equally good. I don't like to paint a rosy picture of our family or our marriage either, because tensions and conflicts also happen with us. However, we do not discuss educational principles in front of the children. We are allies. It's like diplomacy: behind closed doors, we discuss what we disagree on, but outwardly, in this case in front of the children, we act as one," said the head of state about his own family.
"Since my election, I have tried to ensure that the family suffers as little as possible from the situation associated with the position. We respect our children, we respect their lives. For example, our oldest son goes to university without even knowing who his mother is. The younger ones are also independent: we support their going to school with a BKV pass", Katalin Novák illustrated the situation of her family, who is grateful to God that she lives in a loving family.
"My family is like a phone charger for me. Even if I go home tired, we talk in the evening, we are together, so the next day I can start the next task recharged again. And our children have an appropriate critical sense of my work, they are perhaps my most honest critics."
Katalin Novák told us that she still goes shopping today despite her position as the President of the Republic. "By now I'm used to people getting to know me, saying hello, and then everyone keeps buying. Sometimes they talk to me, some photos are taken. They are surprised that I even go to the store. In such cases, I ask: what do you think we will have for dinner? I am the President of the Republic, but I am also a mother, wife and housewife".
"I know that many mothers cannot stay at home due to the pressure to make ends meet. That is why I consider all steps that increase the financial freedom of young people who have children to be right. When it comes to encouraging young people to start a family, it is also necessary to honestly say that being a mother is beautiful, but it is often an exhausting task to the point of endurance. Moreover, there is no perfect time to have a child. There will always be something that makes us feel that the moment is not ideal," said the head of state.
Katalin Novák described the Hungarian demographic situation as difficult, as the population has been decreasing since 1981.
"The situation is difficult. It is not only that fewer children are born every year than die, but also that there are twenty percent fewer women of childbearing age than two decades ago. If no more children are born, we will renounce our future, the preservation of Hungarianness".
The European situation is no better, Katalin Novák said in this regard: the leaders should ask the question, why are so few children born?
"In Hungary, we protect life and family. The state can help ensure that starting a family has as few financial obstacles as possible, and that those raising children are not worse off than those who did not want to start a family. Today, Hungary has become an example for many to follow".
Katalin Novák said that in her conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy the other day: they are trying to make progress as soon as possible regarding the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians, Katalin Novák said: she is not naive, just optimistic.
"It was said from the mouth of the Ukrainian president that he is ready to give the members of the Transcarpathian Hungarian minority what the members of the Ukrainian minority receive in our country. This may not sound very good at first, but it is actually a good basis for negotiation. Hungary is known to be generous with its national minorities. Our Basic Law states clearly: the nationalities living in Hungary are state-creating factors," the President of the Republic pointed out.
"If the Hungarians of Transcarpathia were to be granted the same, it would be a big step forward, especially compared to the developments of previous years. An important characteristic of a country trying to join Europe is that it can be taken seriously. The Ukrainian president must be a serious person, and if he said something, he meant it. I consider this to be the foundation, and I look forward to its practical implementation. Therefore, let us trust that what is happening now in Munkács does not correspond to his intentions, and that we can remedy the problems as soon as possible. I definitely expect this from him," the head of state emphasized.
Many people think of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that after her election she gave up her alliance with Hungary in European politics, to which she had previously given many signs. In this regard, the President of the Republic said: he is in literally daily contact with the Italian Prime Minister.
"Giorgia Meloni is trying to deal with the difficult legacy he received from his predecessors. He doesn't have an easy job, he doesn't have much pressure either in Italy or in the wider world. We Hungarians do not have to strengthen the camp of critics, but quite the opposite: it is in our interest - which also stems from my personal conviction - to support the implementation of everything he has undertaken. Whether it is about creating economic stability in Italy, stopping illegal migration or strengthening traditional family values. Due to the latter, the demographic peak is now coming to Budapest as well".
