It is my honour to greet the graduates of the Faculty of Law Enforcement at the National University of Public Service.
By choosing this career, you have chosen not only a profession, but also a service and a vocation. Committing oneself to service is a declaration of a strong character. And a prerequisite for having a strong character is having received a good example, which can come from one’s family and teachers. For this reason, it is with gratitude that I greet the family members and university teachers present here today. Their education and support have contributed to so many young people putting their capacities and strength at the service of their country. We members of older generations have learned that the country, the nation, can only survive if we can reveal to younger generations why it is worth loving and serving our homeland.
Dear Oath-takers,
We Hungarians need our homeland because it protects us from all strife and dangers. And there is an abundance of dangers. Hundreds of thousands of migrants besiege our borders. Terrorist attacks shake the cities of Western Europe. For two years we have lived under the threat of a deadly virus. And now war has broken out in a neighbouring country. We need to be strong, prepared and united, because only in this way will we be able to repel the threats to our community, and only in this way will we be able to protect the peace and security of Hungarians. As long as there is strength, preparedness and unity, there will always be a strong Hungary.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The most important task of the state has always been the preservation of public order. A government that cannot guarantee the security of life and property loses the right to expect cooperation from citizens. This is a contract between the state and its citizens that must not be broken. We Hungarians know exactly what it is like for law and order to be at a low ebb. There have been times when paramilitary organisations were marching in the streets and when a campaign of organised murder targeted Hungarian citizens. Times are different now. The number of crimes in Hungary has fallen to a third of its previous level, and last year we set a record: the lowest number of crimes in Hungary in the thirty years since the fall of communism. As a result of our joint work, Hungary is now one of the safest countries in Europe, and Budapest one of the safest capital cities. It is worth appreciating this, because in the coming decades a country’s orderliness and security will be its greatest advantage in international competition. The exchange rate of security is constantly rising, and order and security are Hungary’s hardest currency.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The war we see in a neighbouring country shows that we need to prepare for the challenges of the new era, that we need to be prepared for all possible scenarios. The financial resources are available, and we can provide you with ever better conditions in which to fulfil your calling. We will also continue to increase the esteem, equipment, skills and level of preparedness of our law enforcement personnel.
Dear Oath-takers,
The vocation into which you are sworn today is one of the noblest and most challenging. For us it is entirely suitable. I wish you good health and strength in this noble work. Stay true to your oath and serve Hungary with virtue. I wish you every success.