Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.
Sheikh Qassem: The government’s latest decision [on the disarmament of the Resistance] is non-charter-based, and if the government continues down this path, it is not faithful to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Hungary launches national survey to decide on Russian sanctions

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Oct 2022 18:47
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Although the poll has no legal implications, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right-wing government has since 2015 resorted to these questionnaires to gain legitimacy for its positions against the EU and its draconian policies.

  • x
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban have always entertained close political ties
    Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban

Hungary launched on Friday a nationwide survey to ask its citizens to agree or disagree with the government's opposition to EU sanctions against Russia.

The survey is published on the government's Facebook page and is comprised of seven questions. A statement on the Facebook page reads: "We believe that the sanctions are destroying us."

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is well-known for his opposition to Russian sanctions, said they were causing more harm to Europe than to Russia. This is evidenced by the current energy crisis and the surges in prices.

It is worth noting that Hungary is heavily reliant on Moscow for energy, receiving roughly 80% of its gas from Gazprom. 

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Budapest managed to secure an exemption from the EU to continue its purchase of Russian gas.

With expectations that the situation would backfire heavily on the EU, Budapest bought considerable amounts of crude oil despite that inflation has recently begun to be felt. 

It is no help to #Ukraine if the European economy goes bankrupt. We are threatened by years of recession due to a primitive and ineffective sanctions regime. A hike in European unemployment will not help. We must aid Ukraine in a way that does not lead to our own defeat.

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) October 13, 2022

Read more: Hungary's stance on Russia could expel it from EU: Czech FM

Earlier on Friday, Orban called out on "the European elite" for deciding on the fate of EU member countries. 

On September 16, Hungary was coerced into joining anti-Russian sanctions because the EU was threatening to cut funds to Hungary over alleged signs of corruption and a poor record in human rights. 

"We always ask people the most important questions... have always tried to create a national consensus on certain issues," he said during an interview in reference to the poll.

Related News

US considers Budapest as venue for Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit: Report

EU strategy to isolate Russia has failed: Hungary's Orban

Although the poll has no legal implications, Orban's right-wing government has since 2015 resorted to these questionnaires to gain legitimacy for its positions against the EU and its draconian policies.

The upcoming questionnaire, titled "About the Brussels Sanctions," will be sent out to all Hungarian households, and respondents will have to submit their answers back by December 9.

Among the questions is one on the potential sanctioning of Russian gas supplies imposed by "Brussels leaders" that would "put at risk household heating and the European economy's ability to operate."

Another question concerns the impact of sanctions on food prices and related costs of living, as well as inflation which increases "the risk of starvation in developing countries" and "leads to increasing migration pressure" on Europe's borders. 

Read more: Hungary will not support sanctions against Russian energy sector: FM

On September 18, the EU Commission recommended freezing billions of euros meant for Hungary over allegations of Budapest violating rule-of-law. However, the government's proposals for actions that would fix the domestic situation could help Hungary dodge sanctions.

"The Commission proposes a suspension of 65% of the commitments for three operational programs under cohesion policy, amounting to an estimated 7.5 billion euros [$7.5 billion]," Budget and Administration Commissioner Johannes Hahn told reporters.

The Council of the European Union has one month to approve the measure that would cost Hungary a third of its funding. The eastern European country is one of the EU's top beneficiaries - second after Poland.

A day later, the EU expressed outrage over Hungary's freezing of Russian assets worth only 3,000 euros, while some other EU member states have frozen "billions".

Yesterday, Hungary struck a deal with Gazprom to postpone payments for Russian gas.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said about the deal was intended "to improve financial conditions" and that "Gazprom Export’s director general will sign an agreement tomorrow to defer payment [for Russian gas] so that our payment terms will become more favorable."

Read more: Hungary sustains ties with Russia: FM

  • Hungary
  • Anti-russian sanctions
  • orban
  • European Union

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS