Orbán says he is being hunted after his brother Áron’s arrest

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said he is being “hunted,” but that the hunter does not always win, which is why he is staying in politics. He made the remarks in a Facebook video after several scandals involving the Fidesz party and his family.

According to Orbán, this is not the first attempt to “catch” him. He compared himself to the “famous president of a famous big country,” who, he said, was targeted for assassination more than once and was ruined five times over, yet is now president. Orbán, a supporter of Donald Trump, used the comparison to describe the U.S. leader. He said Fidesz, now in opposition, has nothing to fear: it has done nothing it would have to answer for.

“A radically left-wing government”

Orbán described the current authorities as arbitrary, “neo-communists” and a radically left-wing government that wants to silence its opponents and anyone who speaks the truth. In his words, it sets the authorities on everyone who raises a voice and is trying to build a one-party system. But such things have happened before in history, he added, and there is nothing to be afraid of.

Orbán led the government from 2010 until this year. He noted that his 82-year-old mother is finding the situation hard to bear: “It is hard for any mother when her children are wronged.”

Brother in custody, former ministers detained

His remarks come after Orbán’s younger brother Áron was taken into custody this week on suspicion of human trafficking. According to media reports, a criminal group arranged visas for foreigners, mostly Vietnamese citizens, through fictitious employment, and Áron Orbán used political connections to do so. Viktor Orbán said that he himself is the target and that his brother is merely a tool.

Since Magyar’s government came to power, former Culture Minister Balázs Hankó has also been detained. He is suspected of embezzling 17 billion forints (1.1 billion koruna). Former Development Minister Miklós Seszták has been taken into custody on suspicion of corruption involving 11 billion forints (740 million koruna). Former central bank chief György Matolcsy has been detained as well.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz