Hunagrian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán‘s policies caused an unprecedented brain drain as thousands of Hungarians left the country searching for better jobs and education. At a press conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on October 8, Valérie Hayer, President of the Renew group, said Orbán turns Hungarian reality about immigrants upside down because he cannot fix problems at home.
Hayer noted that the number of people leaving Hungary is at a historic point. Last year, over 33,000 Hungarians left their country because of the economic situation.
“This is the highest number since teen years ago,” highlighted Renew’s President.
“They left Hungary not for Russia or China, but for Western Europe,” she emphasised.
Hayer explained this occurred “because Orbán cannot fix problems at home. He can’t find a solution for low wages. To fix bad education or poor job perspectives”.
“Orbán is scaremongering to avoid attention for his failing Home Affairs,” underlined Hayer.
It’s been argued that brain drain was a big part of how Orban managed to push through constitutional reform, as he barely had the majority to do so and made it very hard for expats to vote. Heading the clever people leave also significantly weakened the opposition at home.
Meanwhile foreign capital is pouring in, as why wouldn’t you invest in a EU country.
(See: The European Union’s authoritarian equilibrium by @rdanielkelemen@eupolicy.social)