Bugs – Orbán's term for judges, journalists, politicians and civic activists he says are funded from abroad

Each year, on 15 March, Hungary celebrates one of its biggest national holidays. On this day, the nation remembers the unsuccessful 1848 revolution when the Hungarians rallied against the Austrian empire, and demanded autonomy from the Habsburg Monarchy, along with the introduction of several reforms, known as “The twelve points”.

As part of this year's state commemorations, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered his speech on the steps of the National Museum. In it he spoke about the bid of the Brussels empire for the freedom of Hungarians, but added that for fifteen years now, Hungarians have not knelt down to Brussels, Soros nor the American liberal empire. He then used harsher language than ever before to describe judges, civilians, independent journalists and opposition politicians. (Judges are likely included because of the recent protest held in Budapest to demand the independence of the judiciary, which was organized by the Association of Hungarian Judges – ed).

The battle for the soul of the Western world

"Viktor, Viktor!" the crowd chanted as the Hungarian Prime Minister took to the stage. He started his speech by saying: "The idea and origin of Hungarian freedom goes back a thousand thousand years and will continue to live on among the stars for many more millenia to come. 170 years ago, the ideal of Hungarian freedom was bound up in a single place: Pest-Buda. That became the embodiment of Hungarian freedom."

"15 March is a sacred moment, it is a day ordained for Hungarians, and it will remain so forever”, the Prime Minister said.

"For many years now, we have been listening to them tell us that we are the past. That is what they said in 1848 and in 1956, and today they are telling us that the future belongs to the global empire of the rainbow". He then added: "But the tide has turned on the other side of the big pond and it turns out that we are the future. The future belongs to patriots and independent nations," he said.

We are freedom fighters, we know how to fight, it is in our DNA and that is what the world needs. Orbán added that we have once again stood our ground against a "global empire", which is why half the world, from Vienna to Washington, is now coming to us.

"Just like in 1848, our freedom is not only a matter for Hungarians. In reality, the battle is actually being waged for the soul of the Western world." Orbán then spoke of the "empire" seeking to replace the nation with people coming from foreign lands, "the empire wants to rid itself of the Christian will" and wants war instead of peace. But we have not allowed them to take over the parliament, the country and the government…It's been fifteen years and they have not been able to handle us, and

all their weapons have turned out to be useless against us. Neither blackmail, nor money, nor threats, nor pressure from Brussels have been effective”, Orbán said.

Alone against Brussels

“We have won every election since then, and our defences have not even cracked for the past 15 years. We have endured. We persevered because we believed that the wind would one day change, and that has now happened, the patriots of the Western world have gained strength.”

"We were the ones who first called for the fight for freedom, and we were the ones who paved the way," Orbán said, adding that they were the ones who did not kneel either before Brussels, nor Soros or the American liberal empire. "Today, the Hungarian flag is still flying proudly," he said. According to him, a Hungarian never just fights for themselves but also for their nation. "We are a nation of freedom, which cannot bear to be without freedom and nation."

He also added that “This is the country of Hungarians, we do not want anyone else's, and we will not give this one up. We will never compromise. No. No. Never!” He said that empires want subjugation, subordinates, and not free Hungarians. "There has always been an empire that wanted to take away the freedom of the Hungarians. Now, it is the empire from Brussels doing that," the Prime Minister said.

According to Orbán, "Today, Brussels is seeking to rule over us in the same way as the viceroy of the Viennese court did in the past",

but he believes that history will take a turn there too, and "the time will come when we will settle all scores". He said that they would get back the rights that Brussels had taken away, and the faithful servants of "the empire" would be sent back to Brussels. "Empires are inherently hungry, their bellies bottomless. They are always itching for a new colony," the Prime Minister said, adding that Hungarians know that "being Hungarian is rewarding", while "slavery makes one impoverished".

According to him, they have built "the only patriotic economy in the world", they took back the Hungarian energy system, they repelled all the intrigues coming from Brussels, which sought to play the Hungarians' money into the hands of profiteers, and they even managed to endure three years of war.

During Orbán's speech, several counter-protesters derided him, to which Fidesz supporters standing nearby responded by trying to clap loudly. The protesters were surrounded by a ring of police officers.

The bugs – a.k.a. civic activists, journalists and judges

"After today's festive gathering comes the Easter clean-up: the bugs have made it through winter. We are going to dismantle the financial machine that has been using corrupt dollars to 'buy' politicians, judges, journalists, bogus NGOs and political activists. We are going to eliminate the entire shadow army. They are our modern-day lackeys, the minions of Brussels, who are pushing the empire's cart against their own country, in exchange for money. My friends, they have been here for far too long. They have survived for too long, they have received money from too many places, they have changed cloaks too many times," Orbán said, explaining that "in 1848 it was the birds of the emperor who were against us, and now it's the hatchlings of Weber crowing over our heads.”

"Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt" (lit:Spring winds bring floodwaters – the first line of a traditional Hungarian folk song -TN), he said, adding: let the waters take them away.

"The scarlet letter is upon them, may their fate be shame and contempt. If there is any justice, and there is, there is a special place waiting for you in hell,"

the Hungarian Prime Minister said, sending a message to the ‘shadow army’ he says his government is preparing to do away with.

"You may be dressed up in new garbs of European parties, but your masters and your plans are the same as before. Have no hope, because your fate will be the same as well: we will defeat you again and again," the PM said.

"May the good God be above us all, and may Hungary be before all else," Orbán said, concluding his speech. The audience responded by chants of "Viktor, Viktor".