The Hungarian Prime Minister met with demonstrating, dissatisfied farmers in Brussels.

Viktor Orbán met protesting farmers in the Belgian capital, with whom he talked about the fact that European leaders should pay much more attention to the voice of the people.

The prime minister stated to Belgian journalists: new leaders and a new elite are needed in Europe, because at the moment - whether it's about migration or the war in Ukraine - the voice of the people on the street is not taken seriously, and this is a democratic deficit.

The prime minister emphasized that the fact that agriculture is an important element of the European economy is not properly respected in the European Union.

In many countries, unfavorable regulations for farmers were introduced, which made their situation more difficult.

Viktor Orbán emphasized that much lighter rules apply to Ukrainian agriculture, so an unfair competitive situation has developed.

"We, Poles, Slovaks, Hungarians, who live directly next door to Ukraine, are the first to suffer from this. But sooner or later this danger, this loss, will also reach the inner part of Europe, and it will be felt here, in Brussels, France and Spain," said the Hungarian Prime Minister, adding that this must be stopped.

"The European Commission must represent the interests of European farmers vis-a-vis Ukrainians, not the other way around," he added.

He also explained that the import of Ukrainian products must be stopped, because the terms and conditions of farming are not the same, and European farmers suffer heavy losses due to EU regulations.

As a solution to the problem, Viktor Orbán suggested a complete change of leadership in Brussels, because "these leaders will never make decisions favorable to farmers".

"We need to find new leaders who really represent the interests of the people," he added, referring to the European Parliament elections in June.

 

MTI

Cover image : Prime Minister Viktor Orbán speaks to journalists after meeting farmers protesting in downtown Brussels on January 31, 2024.
Next to him is Bertalan Havasi, head of the Prime Minister's Press Office (b3). Source: MTI/Prime Minister's Press Office/Zoltán Fischer