The exclusion of about 20 Hungarian universities from the Erasmus+ European scholarship program is a revenge of Brussels that wants another government in Budapest, ultra-nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Oban said on Friday, in his weekly intervention on public radio Kossuth, EFE reports, Agerpres reads.

„Those who have children ask themselves: what kind of people are these, who take revenge on children, who take revenge on young people?”, Orban asked rhetorically.

The European Commission announced in December that it will suspend the granting of 22 billion euros of cohesion funds to Hungary until Budapest fulfills all conditions related to the independence of the judiciary, academic freedoms, LGBT rights and the asylum system. The commission said Hungary had not changed its practice of appointing politicians close to the government to the boards of 21 higher education institutions.

At the same time, the European executive appreciated that it has no guarantees that the European funds will be used transparently.

In Orban’s opinion, Brussels insists on creating a multi-colored Europe, with immigrants, an approach against which the Budapest government „defends itself”. In addition, Orban says, Hungary rejects the idea that non-governmental organizations and other groups should decide for themselves „how to raise children”.

„They will not be able to corner Hungary”, insisted Orban, who added that his country will survive even without European funds. In addition, Orban announced that the Hungarian government will cover the expenses of students who want to study abroad.

Separately, Orban appreciated that the European Union should end the sanctions against Russia in order to curb inflation, but for this a person „with strong biceps” is needed.

„The time has come when someone should come who is brave enough and who has strong biceps and a broad back to say that we did things wrong,” said Orban.

In the opinion of the Hungarian prime minister, considered Moscow’s closest ally within the European Union, without the sanctions against Russia in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine, inflation would be halved. He added, however, that, for now, he does not see that person „with strong biceps” existing.

Hungary’s strength is not enough to change the EU’s attitude, he lamented, appreciating that, „to do this, you have to be German or French”.

Agerpres