Hungarian PM Orban reacts to EU Commission over migrants and 'LGBT' issues
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed that the European Union (EU) is blocking 20 billion euros in funds owed to his country due to its stance on migrants and LGBT groups, stating that there is no amount of money in the world that would convince his citizens to entrust their children to LGBT activists.
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In a post on X, Orban noted that his country cannot be blackmailed regarding EU funds, and that they cannot be forced to accept migrants or hand their children over to LGBT groups.
Prime Minister Orban also criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a video he shared.
Stating that the 20 billion euros in funds in question belong to the Hungarian people and cannot be withheld, Orban alleged that von der Leyen is blocking the funds because they do not accept migrants into the country and do not permit LGBT groups.
Orban stated that he would not allow the problems experienced in Western European countries due to migrants to occur in his own country.
Stating that there is not enough money in the world to force them to accept migrants, Orban said, "There is no amount of money in the world that would make us leave our children or grandchildren in the hands of LGBT activists. This is impossible."
HUNGARY-EU FUND TENSION
European Commission President von der Leyen said in a speech in Strasbourg on January 17 that approximately 20 billion euros of Hungary's funds were frozen and that the funds could not be released until all necessary conditions were met.
The EU has long criticized Hungary for backsliding in fundamental areas such as democracy and the rule of law, and funds under Hungary's recovery program are not being transferred.
The Commission had proposed increasing the EU budget further, including 50 billion euros for Ukraine and 15 billion euros for migration-related expenditures.
At the EU Leaders' Summit held in December, the 50 billion euro financial support plan for Ukraine, which requires unanimity, was vetoed by Hungary.
Hungary opposes providing financial aid to Ukraine on the grounds that the EU budget should support member states, that there is serious corruption in Ukraine, and that the support provided by the West in the war has not yielded results.
EU leaders, who have not yet been able to reach a decision on this matter, will hold a summit in Brussels on February 1 to discuss financial support for Ukraine and revisions to the EU's long-term budget.