The Hungarian government today launched a new national consultation against the “trade war” which it believes Brussels is waging against China and Russia, ten days before the EU summit in Budapest, France Press reported, quoted by BTA.< /p>
Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has sought to open up to the East, has strengthened the central European country's ties with Beijing and Moscow since returning to power in 2010, AFP noted.
At the same time, he stepped up his criticism of EU sanctions against Russia and opposed EU taxes on imports of Chinese electric cars.
„National consultations will strengthen the government” as for the “demands from Brussels”, which are leading Europe to “destruction in terms of competitiveness”, Orban recently explained.
Should Hungarians “join the trade war started by Brussels and risk jeopardizing their economy” or should they instead “choose neutrality”, one of the questions asks.
Among the remaining 11 questions posted on the Hungarian government's Facebook page are whether migration should be “encouraged” or to work on the birth rate, to accept or refuse to pay the latest fines imposed by the Court of Justice of the European Union on the right of asylum.
The prime minister, who is constantly at odds with Brussels, has regularly used this polling technique since 2015 to legitimize his anti-European stance, AFP points out.
Hungary holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council until the end of December and will host the leaders of the member states in Budapest on November 8 in a stormy atmosphere.
After the “peace mission” in early July, when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin, Orbán today travels to Georgia on a two-day visit as the country's pro-European opposition calls for demonstrations to condemn the “stolen election”.
Citizens are invited to fill out the questionnaire and send it by post by December 20.
During the previous national consultation in late 2023 and early 2024 on Hungary's sovereignty, 1.5 million people out of a total of 8 million eligible voters expressed their opinion on the issues raised. Referring to their answers, the government assured that it has the support of 97% of Hungarians.
Placards were then put up across the country targeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which read: “Let's not play to their music”.