Orban’s stronghold? It nestles within the Hungarian countryside | EUROtoday

Listen to the audio model of the article

Ferenc Franyik is 32 years outdated and owns 92 hectares of land in Szolnok, 100 kilometers east of Budapest, the place he grows cereals, raises cows and produces honey. And he’s “completely satisfied” with Viktor Orban’s authorities. Like him, many farmers are able to vote for the sovereignist chief for the fifth time. Because, they are saying, he’s the one who has given essentially the most to the sector.

How do you consider these 16 years of Orban authorities?

I’m utterly happy with the federal government’s efforts. From the political transition in 1989 to as we speak, no Hungarian authorities has finished a lot to help the agricultural sector. This is demonstrated by the measures taken over the past ten years. He launched the Land Law, which permits solely Hungarian residents to purchase agricultural land and offers precedence to younger farmers in accessing it. It has offered vital help in the course of the Covid pandemic and drought years. It helps generational change in agriculture by way of non-repayable loans. It supplies loans to the agricultural sector on favorable phrases, with an rate of interest of three%. He opposed, and continues to oppose, free commerce agreements which might be dangerous to us farmers. And then on a number of events, when oil costs elevated dramatically, it launched a sponsored gas worth (1.6 euros). This is why I don’t look favorably on a change of presidency: I think about the attainable lack of the outcomes listed above to be a critical risk.

Do you agree with Orban’s anti-EU place?

In my opinion, that is faux information: there is no such thing as a actual opposition to the EU. Orban doesn’t have issues with the EU, however with the functioning of its establishments, specifically the European Commission. The Commission is adopting measures which might be dangerous to farmers and shoppers, such because the reform of agricultural subsidies and the settlement with Mercosur.