Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday backed US President Donald Trump in his November re-election bid, reported AFP.
The Hungarian Prime Minister, who has been in power since 2010, said Trump had called him at home on 10 September, with the two exchanging opinions on the approaching November presidential elections in the US, as well as issues linked with the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The US president is on particularly close, one could almost say friendly terms with all the Central Europe leaders… This is why we, or at least I am personally supporting him to win the election," said Orban during his weekly public radio interview.
In the 2016 election race, Victor Orban was the first European premier to endorse Donald Trump, touting the Republican as a "better option" for the European Union than his then Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.
“I am not a Donald Trump campaigner… I never thought I would ever entertain the thought that of the open options he would be better for Europe and for Hungary. But I listened to the candidate and and I must tell you he made three proposals to combat terrorism. And as a European I could have hardly articulated better what Europe needs,” said Orban after Trump’s speech when accepting the Republican nomination for president in 2016.
Since then Orban has never shied away from openly voicing his support for Trump.
'Tough on Immigration'
The US president and Victor Orban are known for sharing a tough stance on immigration.
Last year the POTUS welcomed the Hungarian Prime Minister to the White House and showered praise on him for a “tremendous job”.
“You’re respected all over Europe. Probably, like me, a little bit controversial, but that’s OK… You’ve done a good job and you’ve kept your country safe,” said Trump.
President Trump Welcomes Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán to White House – Video and Transcript… https://t.co/dPoybOIfn7 pic.twitter.com/aVBFHCMQr7
— TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) May 13, 2019
Orban, in turn, said his government and the Trump administration were aligned on some global issues.
“I would like to express that we are proud to stand together with United States on fighting against illegal migration, on terrorism, and to protect and help Christian communities all around the world,” said the Hungarian PM.
Viktor #Orban and @matteosalvinimi inspected #Hungary's Southern border fence together. Later in Budapest, #Salvini will make a press statement with Interior Minister Pinter, and a press conference with Orban. (Photos: Orban's Facebook) pic.twitter.com/WcHftAMH8J
— Hungary Journal (@hungary_journal) May 2, 2019
Regarding the issue of immigration, Trump said:
“You have been great with respect to Christian communities, you have really put a block up. And we appreciate that very much.”
More recently, Hungary has fended off criticism from the European Union as it took the decision to close its borders to foreigners this month, citing virus fears, while exempting the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.
"From September 1, foreign citizens will no longer be allowed to enter the territory of Hungary," said Gergely Gulyás, Orbán’s cabinet chief said.
However, the EU demanded Hungary “immediately retract” its new border rules, which Brussels claimed amounted to discrimination and “do not comply with the fundamental principles of EU law”, as discriminating among member states violates rules governing the EU's passport-free Schengen area.
