Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban claimed on Friday that liberal values and immigration could destroy Europe, as he struck a defiant note in the face of possible expulsion from the largest party in the European Parliament. Mr Orban has become a leader among the EU’s nationalist, anti-immigration and Eurosceptic politicians since building fences on Hungary’s southern borders in 2015 to keep out refugees and migrants. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban attends Hungary’s national day celebrations, which also commemorates the 1848 Hungarian Revolution against the Habsburg monarchy. “In a European ‘liberal empire’, we will all lose our liberties,” he added. And it is us who want a strong Europe, strong nation states, and strong leaders at the helm of Europe, who don’t bring trouble here but take help over there,” Mr Orban said.

Source: The Irish Times March 15, 2019 15:56 UTC