About two weeks ago I published the English translation of Attila Mesterházy’s policy speech. Some of you complained about the number of “ladies and gentlemen” in Mesterházy’s speech. In DK circles everybody uses the familiar “te,” including the former prime minister, and supporters call him “Feri.” There is another difference. Unlike other politicians, including Viktor Orbán who is considered to be a good speaker, Gyurcsány has no written text. He talks with the assistance of some scribbled notes and doesn’t have to look at those notes very often. Perhaps you will gain a better understanding of his style by watching a few minutes of the video of his speech.
The speech is long and therefore I will publish it in three parts. I want to thank the editors of Free Hungary for allowing me to republish it here. By the way, you can find a link to Free Hungary on the “Blog Role.”
* * *
If we continue as now, the next prime minister will be called Orbán
“If we continue in the same way as now, the next prime minister will be called neither Gordon Bajnai nor Attila Mesterházi but will be called Viktor Orbán. Even though we would have every ground to put an end to Orbán’s governance and, theoretically, we have even the tools to defeat Orbán and his regime. Then, I’m repeating it again: if we go on in the same way as now, we will fail. A great lesson from the past year is that it was not Orbán’s government that caused a surprise. Frankly speaking, he cannot do that any more. The surprise is, if any, that the multitude of democratic people, including the voters, various movements, organisations, the media, a significant portion of intellectuals, who are still brave and committed enough to contravene Orbán, were not yet able to organize themselves, are not yet prepared for a fight ending with victory. But, if we have an influence on something at all, it is evidently the world of opposition. We are not so gullible to suppose that this government is interested in knowing what we are thinking about Hungary, it just does what it wants. We say what we are thinking, we try to show alternatives but, where we really have a great responsibility, where we really have tools, is to organize and train the democratic opposition for the fight, it is to show an alternative against Orbán. We need to do much more than we have done until now.”
The country is tired; there are too many hopeless people
“But still, let me begin with where the country is in the spring of 2013. I can’t say much new compared to the last year, at least not in quality. What we said about the country at that time and what we expected then, is true even today and our expectations have, unfortunately, not been fulfilled either. But we came to assess the state of the nation, we want to speak about the condition of the republic and therefore, let’s summarize, not in too much length, how we see Hungary. If I need to say it briefly, then I say that the country is tired, many, too many people have lost their hope and there is almost no field in the country’s life where we could say that it became a little bit better and more hopeful than was in 2010.”
This is no longer a constitutional state but an autocracy: the will of one single man replaces the constitution
“A debate has been going for a long time about, how to characterize this regime, whether this is still a democracy or already an autocracy, whether constitutionality is still alive. All that happened in the past few days is that this government is amending the fundamental law, said to be as hard as granite, for the fourth time now within one year by a huge package of 26 pages; this may convince even our rightist friends who have not lost their discernment yet that Hungary is no more a constitutional state. Namely, constitutional state means that we decide abidingly what the major frame, institutions and organizations of the state’s operation and the state’s structure are, what our relations to them are. This is what provides stability, the legal system is built on this and we go by this. By today, it has turned out that we do not have to go by the constitution because that may change, if necessary, every day even, but we have to go by the political will behind the permanent change of constitution, which is the will for power of one single person who is called Viktor Orbán. And where the constitution is not the rule but a person’s will, that system is called autocracy rather than democracy. Today, autocracy prevails in Hungary. However, those who want democracy, those who want republic, those who consider themselves democrats, such persons can only oppose this regime. We don’t want to have autocracy. We want to have a free republic with free citizens and those who want to have that, such persons shall require Orbán’s defeat. We are fighting for the defeat of this regime and for restoring the republic.
Decreasing real wages, decreasing consumption, decreasing investment, decreasing unemployment
“Three years ago, this government attained power by promising hope, by promising boom, by promising social justice. Today, the Hungarian economy is more vulnerable than it was in 2010. The shrinking of the Hungarian economy’s performance has been occurring for so many quarters and is becoming more and more serious. The country is in recession. The country’s common cake is decreasing continuously. Never before have so few jobs been established in the first month of the year than just in January 2013. Never before have so many, over 300 thousand people been unemployed without any provision than now. While, theoretically, there is no world crisis, not even in practice, while, of course, Europe has difficulties, but there is not a general crisis in Europe either, in Hungary real wages are decreasing, in Hungary consumption is decreasing and the level of investment is so low that there won’t be any growth in the forthcoming years either. So few homes are being built in this country, less than in 1944 when German troops marched in the streets of Budapest or Makó. We have to face a dark future. The country that obtains its living from investment, the country whose wealth or economy was driven by investment, by capital construction, is now one of the last ones among the investors’ target areas. There is neither investment, nor lending, nor jobs. This is a spiral from which we won’t be able to emerge still for many years.”
The rate of the decline of the Hungarian economic performance is six times higher than the European one: unimaginable depths of poverty and despondency
“The prime minister may say that it is caused by external effects. Partly, and only in lesser part, he is right. The rate of shrinkage of the Hungarian economy is six times higher than the European recession. In this respect, the Hungarian prime minister does not say the truth. Under such circumstances, while touring the country in the past months, we met such a depth of poverty and despondency that I have not seen even for a long time or have never imagined. Poverty has always existed in the history and I suppose it will always exist in the future as well. There will always be people or families, who live on the fringe of the normal human life. Who live from hand to mouth. If I needed to distinguish between poverty of today and that existing many years ago, then I would simply speak about the fact that today there are more poor people and poverty is deeper. I would rather say that earlier, there was at least the hope that you can emerge from it. If nothing else but the hope that it will be better for my children. Today, the hope is lost. Hungary became the country of despondency during Orbán’s governance.”
Only Orbán’s oligarchs are getting richer – the regime introduced the institutionalized corruption
“Those who are getting richer, belong to the world of Orbán’s oligarchs. Poverty has always existed in history and I suppose it will always exist everywhere in the future. But the situation that the political leader and his direct environment, the internal circle of Fidesz world is getting richer by corruption, this is a new phenomenon in Hungary. Such a thing has never happened earlier.”
School was taken away from children, parents and settlements, and only children of the wealthiest families can go to university
“Meanwhile, chaos prevails in the world of education, public education became the site of Christian conservative re-evangelization, the teachers do not know how long they will have their job and from whom they will receive their salary, who their employer is and what is expected from them. School was taken away from children, settlements and parents, they have nothing to do with it, this regime tries to force the free idea of free school to fit to a Procrustean bed, which, from this time on, will evidently not be free any more. While, when we speak about a free country, we naturally also take notice of the fact that there are thousands of different ideas and, since every family and every child is manifold, this manifoldness can be mediated only by manifold schools. That the university’s autonomy is taken away, that by today, universities are, basically, in the state of inoperability. They are not on the verge but in the state of inoperability. That the gates of universities are not opened but closed. That, except for the wealthiest families, almost nobody has the opportunity to acquire such diplomas, whilst the leading power, the intellectuals of the country, those who tailor shape to Hungary of the future will be recruited on the long run from the holders of these diplomas.
Despondency: More people go abroad than after 1956
“The reason for despondency is that more than half a million Hungarian citizens sought and found jobs abroad. More people go abroad than after 1956 and this is the sin of this government because they leave the country who are the most mobile, the bravest and the most venturesome. There are very many young people among them, who are really needed in this country but who do not find any opportunity and hope in Hungary.”
To the executors of the show trials: even bigger rogues than their supporters have collapsed in the past
Meanwhile, not even in a concealed manner, show trials are taking place in this country. I always said: “don’t worry about me, I can protect myself”. I have protected myself as well. The latest decision was made recently, which proved that it was a dirty, unfair calumniation in the autumn of 2006 that the politicians of my government, including me encouraged the police of the republic to use and apply illegitimate methods with the intent of intimidation or revenge. Not even the prosecution of Péter Polt was brave enough to, ultimately, fabricate a legally valid incrimination from this ignoble political accusation. This case was closed a few days ago. This is good. But they keep two of my former ministers, György Szilvásy and Pál Szabó under an unfair and false accusation. Miklós Tátrai is kept under an unfair and false accusation. It is the elementary duty of the democratic opposition to assume solidarity with those whom they want to assassinate in show trials. And I want to say silently and calmly to those who take part in this action that even bigger rogues than their support, Viktor Orbán collapse sooner or later. Their support will also fail and they will then face not a show trial but a great number of fair parliamentary and non-parliamentary proceedings where, after reviewing all papers and all letters, in my hope, it will be proved to the country that today, people are being damaged and bemired in an inhuman, unacceptable proceeding for, even unconcealed, political interests, just in order to smear their political rivals. Those who take part in this action do not simply break the law but are similar rogues as their support.
Hungary became isolated: it fawns upon Central-Asian despots
“Meanwhile, Hungary has become isolated. The country that was, erstwhile, the most European one in this region, today, has an eye to the East. It seeks friends in Baku rather than in Berlin or London. It unscrupulously allows an axe murderer to leave the country and fawns upon Central-Asian despots. Unfortunately, in this situation, in this world, an honest Hungarian democrat should be ashamed of his government rather than his country. We need to admit that we are ashamed of this government and our shame is strong enough that we do not want to live together with it. The country sank to knees, most of the Hungarian citizens lost all of their hopes and feel themselves in a hopeless situation”.
I have seen, how it is when the disappointed right-wing crowd rampages
“To conclude, it would be high time to defeat this government. In 2002 and 2006, I was among those who defeated Fidesz, defeated Viktor Orbán. Even under these experiences I have to say to you that, what we are doing now, where we are now, it will not be enough for the victory and what is at least similarly important, it will not be enough for successful governance. Let me start with the latter, in just 2 or 3 sentences. My friend, the evangelistic pastor Gábor Iványi said a few weeks ago that it was worth ridding ourselves of evil, if only for a moment. It was not an evangelical citation but referred to this government stating that it is worth winning even if the government to be set up as a result of this victory would not be able to govern for a long time. Such a sentence from a gospeller is nice. But from a politician, it is, in my opinion, unacceptable. However, every man shall stick to his trade. We must understand that, in case a multi-coloured coalition government, backed by a small majority, needs to govern within the current constitutional frames, surrounded by party soldiers appointed to the top of agencies that shall be independent from the government, while the country will be in an adverse condition, then we must worry about this government very much that it won’t be able to put in the forthcoming 4 years. I lead a stronger government than that after 2006. I have seen how it is when the disappointed right-wing crowd rampages. I have already seen how it is when, not the whole but part of the state apparatus acts against its government. I can imagine how it is, when everybody, from the president of the central bank to the public prosecutor, from the head of the competition authority to the president of the media authority – and now, I discontinue listing – endeavours to upset the government.”
(To be continued)
Hungarian Spectrum 
the first part of the gyurcsany speech is good, but it must be much better to work.
I want to hear a very sharp definition on the following questions:
1. the national problems of the last 100-200 years
2. analysis of the post 1989 era
3. the stations of the roadmap of orban to victory 2012, with some words on the jobbik, too, particularly, the rampage of the orban hooligans!
4. the critical crimes and deceits of the 2/3 regime
5. the shape of an enlightened policy to correct and improve life in Hungary
6. a list of public people who can lead, with a resume of an upright citizen
Later, your will hear the story of Vilmos Farago. I knew him personally. He died a few days ago.
He was the new Magyar. Born in 1929. His widowed Jewish mother remarried. The step father was a good simple rural barber. A Hungarian with German ethnicity.
In the affirmative action era of socialism, Farago, the boy from poor background, became a very good ES editor, and journalist. He was the first college graduate in his family.
A quiet sweet good gifted civilized man.
The Orban race concept is pushing the faragos, and their children into a gulag like vacuum.
Try to read his books.
Matolcsy just announced that he will burn 10% of the National Bank (MNB) reserves, 3 billion euros.
Who believes a liar and a person who brought down the Hungarian economy in 8 years?
Carl Flesch
Realpstr. 61
CH-4054 Basel
Tel: +41(0)61 3017740
Actually the economy was doing very nicely until the financial crisis of 2008. Hungarian Gross Domestic Product Peaked in 2008. It has been falling ever since.
Was he a liar? He did admit to lying about the state of the economy to win the 2006 elections. But he admitted it because at least he felt bad about it and wanted to change Hungarian politics. Sadly the other politicians both in his own party and in Fidesz thought otherwise and managed to destroy his reputation.
Sadly the current “government” lie daily to the Hungarian population. For example the current Fidesz election posters, dishonestly posing as “government information” and of course paid for by the taxpayers. Or the MTI “news”.
Theres a surprise!
The trouble with the Hungarian economy started in 2000 when Matolcsy took over the ministry of economy and when Orbán decided to be generous to the electorate before the elections. It didn’t work out that way. The second culprit was Péter Medgyessy, a very bad prime minister who resigned in 2004. Gyurcsány inherited the troubles and it is true that he didn’t want to come up with an austerity program before the election which was understandable. But immediately after the election he began both structural reforms and austerity. The economy indeed responded positively. Deficit was down to just over 3%. So, all that stuff about Gyurcsány’s ruining the economy, especially in eight years, is more than oversimplification. It is distortion, starting with the fact that Gy. wasn’t the prime minister for eight years. During the infamous eight years there were three prime ministers of Hungary.
Gy’s one big problem is his political naivety. He was stupidly naive to think his ‘lies’ speech would do anything but destroy his own political career (but boost Orbán’s immensely), he was too politically naive to cope with Orbán’s extra-parliamentary guerrilla tactics, and now he has learnt nothing and is still naive enough to think Orbán can be removed by democratic means.
Orbán has no time to democracy – as he has often made clear – and so he has abolished it. All the speeches and all the politics in the world aren’t going to get rid of him. He’s changed the rules completely, but the opposition still hasn’t realised this. He’s even rigged the system so well that, in the event of a miracle and the opposition winning an election, they won’t be able to govern and will be forced out within a year.
The only way to beat Orbán is by using his own methods: extra-parliamentary action (e.g. demanding concrete action from the EU and US), civil protests, strikes and disobedience, and intense propaganda – both internal and external.
But where’s the support for all that to come from? Most Hungarians either like what Orban’s doing and don’t give a toss about the niceties of democracy, or simply don’t, or can’t, care.
The true test of Gy’s speech is not what his supporters think of it, but what effect it has on Orbán.
I imagine Orbán having this speech on DVD, so that at the end of a hard day he can pour himself a beer, settle back with a contented smile to watch Gy still ‘fighting’ yesterday’s battle. It must amuse him no end, that not only has he taken supreme power and ensured he will keep it, but the ‘opposition’ still haven’t cottoned on to what he’s done.
The Orban government just published the distribution of the new Hungarian citizens.
The counter is at 422,870, which means about 100,000 new citizens in the last three months, a suspiciously large number.
http://www.allampolgarsag.gov.hu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=251:hirek1304042&catid=1:friss-hirek&Itemid=50
Place of application; # of applicants on 2012-12-31; on 2013-04-03;
Hungary; 177,002; 203,199
Romania; 125,275; 149,449;
Serbia; 39,383; 46,400;
Ukraine; 8,783; 10,437;
All other; 11,763; 13,385;
quarterly rate of new applicants for Hungarian citizenship
2011-2012 [average of 8 quarters]; 2013 1st quarter
Hungary 22125; 26197; 18.4% above the previous rate of new applicants
Romania 15659; 24174; 54.4% !!
Serbia 4923; 7017; 42.5% !!
Ukraine 1098; 1654; 50.6% !!
All other 1470; 1622; 10.3%
If I understand it well only 1515 new citizens come from Slovakia. This is very small number comparing to about 600 000 ethnic Hungarians living in Slovakia. It would indicate that Orban´s regime is not very attractive for them. The absence of nationalistic Hungarian party (Strana maďarskej koalície – Magyar Koalíció Pártja: SMK-MKP) – Orban´s close ally – in parliament and more votes of ethnic Hungarians for Hungarian-Slovak party HID (Orban doesn´t like this party very much) which brought this party into parliament at the latest elections, seem to confirm it.
The WTF meter is off the charts.
1183 “Soviet” citizen ??? What kind of list is this … ? It also has 1284 Russian?
This looks like the usual Fidesz expertise.
“Most Hungarians either like what Orban’s doing and don’t give a toss about the niceties of democracy, or simply don’t, or can’t, care”
The regime are presently collecting signatures for their “lets bankrupt the electricity companies” outside the metro stations and folk are queuing to give him their support.
That is the reality. The only strange thing is why did he did it this year, surely it would have made more sense in 2014.
Members of the Monetary Council of the National Bank had 35 minutes today to read Matolcsy’s new proposal to dispose of 10% of the foreign reserves in order to push up the economy. The vote followed immediately. The only non-Fidesznik member abstained, saying 35 minutes is not enough to make such an important decision. The others approved the measure.
http://nol.hu/gazdasag/kiraly_julia__35_perc_volt_olvasasra
Meanwhile on Planet Hungary …
If can’t get enough of the wisdom of Our Dear Leader, here is another way to indulge yourself.
An iPhone application, that shows you the speeches of our Beloved Beacon Of Happiness. The application is called Daily Viktor.
If you feel lonely on the bus, and the bottle of whistling apricot brandy you bought from the 10% of the utility bill is long gone, just whip out your iPhone and you’ll feel the warmth in your heart. It only costs a dollar.
https://itunes.apple.com/hu/app/napi-viktor/id623288166?mt=8
Can we license this to North Korea?
PS: More ideas. How about a Fidesz social consultation app? It will show random questioners every morning and send instantly your personal information to 5 Fidesz databases. Name suggestions are welcome (iKubatov).
Oh, no. I suck. I totally blew the test. Is this transmitted to comrade Kubatov?
http://tinypic.com/r/2r6ekd1/6
Such utter nonsense.
I remember when he made the so-called ‘confessions’. First off, he used to royal ‘we’ to be inclusive–ie. meaning everyone in the party. Second, when I heard his comment only one thought occurred to me: here’s a man one could trust from this point on. Regardless of what went before, one who makes such never plans to lie again. It was Gyurcsany’s initiative: he wanted the process to change. The rank and file were aghast: what’s going to happen to our happy thieving in which we get 70% and our thieves-in-arms, Fidesz, gets 30%. Well, they came to the conclusion that Gyurcsany, if left unopposed, was going to halt the gravy train. Better to pull him down went the MSZP’s political brain trust. And so they did.
But this is the crux of the problem, and the populace understands it: the politicos of all stripes are in it for themselves and have no compunction in raping the country repeatedly.
Hence the need for a PROBITY CLAUSE for all higher echelon members of government.
Unusual, but the Hungarian condition needs drastic solutions.
Petofi: “utter nonsense”
I am sympathizing with you.
Gy would be a real hope for Hungary.
All honorable Hungarians would be grateful to him for a change.
He has to hit the Jobbik leadership, and convince their followers that the Vonas are the real liars.
Hardly so, Mutt. This funky little app has been developed by the Political Capital Institute, which The Economist describes as ‘a liberal think-tank,’ Looks funny but I don’t see the point of it being iOS only – most Hungarian smartphone owners tend to use Android devices.
If you proudly share tour test results on Facebook, the phone will ask to access your contacts. Not bad, not bad …