With the permission of The Budapest Beacon I’m republishing their English translation of an important interview with János Lázár, the “COO (chief operating officer)” of Hungary, that originally appeared in yesterday’s Magyar Hírlap, a far-right, pro-Fidesz daily. The interview contains perhaps the most vituperative anti-American statements from a Fidesz politician to date. The language of this interview can be compared only to articles that appeared in party organs during the Rákosi and early Kádár periods.
Among other things, the United States is accused of raising a new Iron Curtain between Russia and Europe and of meddling in Hungarian domestic affairs. Fidesz politicians seem to be convinced that it is the United States that is behind the demonstrations. In fact, the country is accused of taking over the role of the opposition.
Yesterday the Hungarian government decided to begin diplomatic efforts to get the U.S. government to lift the American chargé d’affaire’s diplomatic immunity. The belief is spreading in Budapest that the Orbán government is planning to declare Goodfriend persona non grata. I do hope that someone can explain to Viktor Orbán the grave consequences of such a decision. The Orbán government is playing with fire.
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JÁNOS LÁZÁR: WE WANT TO REMAIN HUNGARIANS!
Translation of interview with Hungarian Chancellor János Lázár appearing in the 22 December 2014 issue of pro-government Magyar Hírlap under the title “Lázár János: Dolgozni kell, nem szabad elbizonytalanodni”. (“János Lázár: One must work, not entertain doubts”).
How do you assess the work of the Information Authority (IH), more commonly known as the Hungarian foreign intelligence?
The Prime Minister stated in 2010 that Hungarian intelligence is the most important task in protecting our national independence. A condition of the country’s sovereignty is decreasing our financial and energy independence as soon as possible. The task of every Hungarian secret service is strengthening the country, and towards this goal increasing our self-determination. The Prime Minister brought the collection of intelligence under the Office of the Prime Minister two years ago. IH operations can work even more efficiently now that European matters have been transferred to us from the foreign ministry.
There are economic interest groups— the bank, tobacco, energy and multinational company lobbies—which, for example, are trying to use the European Commission to advance their economic interests. Naturally, Hungary does not spy on its allies but it is better to be afraid than to be frightened. The task of intelligence was changed at the time of the financial crisis so that it helps the government’s work, not only with collecting information but with financial and money market analysis as well. We expect precise information rather than conspiracy theories from our intelligence agents.
In a country with a high ratio of state and household foreign exchange debt, we are more vulnerable to, and dependent on, foreign interests. It is no surprise that in the past few years we have faced these kinds of attacks intended to undermine the government. My job is to direct the attention of the intelligence service colleagues to the performance of these tasks. For this the government provides the necessary material and human resources. I hope the world view of those in service has also changed, thereby significantly decreasing Russian or western innervation (sic), and finally increases the commitment to our country’s independence.
Unfortunately, the American wire tapping and spying scandals of the past few years have made it clear that our allies do not respect our partners, and that there are no inhibitions or limits. The WikiLeaks documents indicate that America also collects information about the personal lives of leading politicians in our country as well.
What stands behind the attempt to exert influence over Hungary?
America’s interests are not the same as Hungary’s. The United States does not take into consideration the traditions of the region, the country’s traditions. Unfortunately, they don’t want to understand Central European history and national characteristics. Naturally, there exist influential United States interest groups as well with which we do not agree on matters of fundamental questions of values. This world violently, and with money, spreads its convictions such as disregard for the fact that, irrespective of their political proclivities, two-thirds of Hungarians understand a family to refer to the relationship between a man and a woman, and give them the right to raise children.
What is the stronger viewpoint for the Americans, exercising pressure for political or economic interests?
Both. In the future America will change from being an importer to being an exporter of gas thanks to the mining of shale gas, for which it must create a market. We can discuss this, but I am certain that the use of power politics is not a suitable method for securing markets. Our point of view is unequivocal: Hungary is not for sale. Neither for the Russians nor for the Americans. We will purchase energy from whoever sells it cheaply and guarantees that it arrives to use as well.
However, we are a small market. It is not sure that this is the only reason we became an important terrain to the United States.
Unfortunately, there is no economic growth in the European Union, and for this reason the region of Central Europe has become more valuable. Our area has economic potential, from here it is possible to strengthen the western part of the continent as well. A warlike situation has developed between the United States and Russia, and the Americans want to create a new iron curtain on Russia’s border. We are starting from the basic thesis formulated by German chancellor Helmut Kohl and French president Francois Mitterrand: Europe needs the Russians. The war and Russia’s economic collapse has unforeseeable consequences for Europe and Hungary. We are going to pay a high price for it. In the midst of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis we should not forget either that more than 100,000 Hungarians are living in Karpátalja (Carpatho-Ukraine), a substantial number of which are Hungarian citizens as well. The most important thing for the government is to protect them as well.
Do you also believe that the Americans are behind the Autumn demonstrations?
The demonstrations are proof that the right to the freedom of expression exists in Hungary. The demonstrations are as though the American embassy had assumed the role of the Hungarian political opposition. It might appear to some as though they gave up on the opposition parties ever winning the confidence of the Hungarians, and for this reason they have risen to the task of leading the dissatisfied. They express opinions on matters not customary for diplomats. They want to tell us how to behave, what to think about the world. And they tell us how we should live. The credibility of the United States has been called into question by the fact that the American spokesman André Goodfriend is either unable or unwilling to tell public opinion why six Hungarian citizens were banned from entering the United States. Americans should respect Hungary’s thousand-year history, traditions, which cannot be changed through the use of outside force, pressure. Hungarians do not want to be Americans, Germans or Russians. We want to remain Hungarians!
But now once again we are forced into a swing policy. How can this be continued successfully?
The struggle to preserve our identity and independence has characterized our history. Once again we find ourselves facing such a situation. I am convinced that the Hungarian opposition parties will not betray our country and assist the Americans in their efforts. It is not by chance that the American embassy has taken politics to the street, and embolden the organizers and participants.
Goodfriend aside, didn’t the government err in a number of issues giving birth to social discontent?
After the local elections in October the period of governance started. We never claimed to be infallible, or that we never make mistakes. We received a two-thirds mandate from the voters to build an independent, strong Hungary, and not break ranks under the pressure of domestic or international interests.
Fidesz is living high off the hog (urizál), and some of the main criticism has concerned you.
It is obvious that young members of Fidesz living high off the hog is a well-constructed political campaign on the part of the opposition and the press. They want to create an image of us as the party of the rich and which only supports the rich. That’s a lie! We introduced the free meals at kindergarten. We were the ones who offered government subsidies to those buying used flats, who continuously raise the minimum wage, who drastically decreased household utility costs, who increased the wages of teachers, and executed an increase in salaries of health and law enforcement workers.
As a result of our economic policies, inflation has disappeared, which the left-wing politicians and intellectuals always said was a tax on the poor. In addition to all this, we are helping the most vulnerable social strata, those with FX loans: They will see the first half of 2015 that their monthly payments decrease 25 percent or 30 percent. And we’re the party of the rich? Our steps have created opportunities for social inclusion for the poorest.
But in spite of everything it seems that within your own party people are upset that you bought a flat for your young son, or that you have a watch costing many hundreds of thousands of forints.
I hope they don’t want to say that who saves for his children’s future is acting like a lord. I know there are many who are not able to do this, and that is why I am working, so that they get an opportunity for this. At the same time in my city the normal order of life is that people support their children to the best of their ability, and try to provide for their future. In a civil society this cannot be cause for shame but rather virtue. Let’s see things clearly. Today there is a political campaign afoot built on jealousy organized by the opposition that involves accusing everyone of corruption and living high off the hog, especially the younger politicians who are in power. They are doing that with me, those who for the past 25 years look down on Hungarian reality from the homes in the hills of Buda, while I had to struggle on two occasions to win the confidence of a poor provincial part of the country. How can anyone imagine that I could have won the confidence of those living in poverty and those in need of help if I considered myself exception or looked down on them? In politics there can only be one answer to this accusation, this campaign to discredit us, this character assassination: total unity within Fidesz.
What can you do against the fall in your popularity?
Decisions come with disputes and consequences. The current government won’t let up even though it has harmed the interest of a good many groups. The interest groups behind the press use journalists to mess with the people. That is what is happening at RTL Klub, whose owner, the German Bertelsmann group, suffered a serious financial loss as a result of the advertising tax. This group includes a number of oligarchs as well who are not able to access the state’s resources, and that is why they dictate magical questions to journalists who are dependent on them for their existence. Let’s not forget either that from American money Romanian investigative journalists are training the colleagues of certain internet newspapers, while I know, and this is just part of the legend, it is as though this, too, is happening within the framework of the American operation.
The only question is whether the loss in popularity becomes a tendency, a continuous fall, or whether we’re talking about a wave which happens to be standing at the bottom right now.
We musn’t become uncertain. We need to work! If Viktor Orbán had become uncertain in 2011-12-13, then we would not have won the election in 2014. Then there were moments when Fidesz was even less popular than it currently is. We didn’t wet ourselves and we didn’t hide. We waded into the fight, picked up the glove, and in the end we won. Winning back trust after losing popularity means even more work now than before. We had to struggle for three years for the country, which was threatened by financial collapse. Now, economically speaking we have risen ourselves up to be among the three best-performing countries in the EU. There is no western analysis that does not acknowledge our economic results, we, however, fall into the mistake of entertaining doubts. There is no reason for this. We are on a good path. We don’t have to be afraid. We have to work!
The decrease in household utility costs was the Fidesz panacea during the first cycle. What is it you want to win over voters with now?
We continue to step in the direction of decreasing the cost of utility to the economy and the state. We are decreasing court fees and we want to provide more services, all of this in a transparent manner. We will do everything so that economic actors, especially industry, can obtain cheap electricity. The government’s goal is for us to be the strongest country in the region. In the interest of improving economic competitiveness we are going to reform technical training, improve the educational system and modernize the country. European Union taxpayers are providing enormous material support for this. A strong state is needed. A decrease in bureaucracy on the other hand increases competitiveness. There will be more debates on this, but an efficient, cheap and well-functioning state is worth a political fight.
How many positions will be eliminated over the course of decreasing bureaucracy?
There are 198 prefectures (járás) in the country. By the end of 2015 we will create 260 government windows. The prefecture structure works well, it is close to the people. By contrast 925,000 people work in state administration, while at the same time four million pay taxes. Three million taxpayers maintain the current bureaucracy. Furthermore, this is a reverse pyramid: the higher we go, the more workers there are. There are two bosses for every worker who meets with citizens and customers. This is unacceptable. Today for example there are 3,500 directors for 26,000 government office employees. This cannot be called reasonable. For this reason there is no point in talking about how many should be dismissed, because there are areas that need to be downsized and there are ones where it is necessary to hire people. It is the job of the state to serve the people, which is why we need to deal with matters that interest the voters, and which improves the quality of their lives, like strengthening the system of local practitioners, or preventative medicine. Or whether for social security somebody who regularly goes for a screening test represents the same risk as someone who does not. How can the state motivate someone to deal with sickness through prevention and preliminary control? I could cite examples of public transportation as well for which we need to use our time, energy and trust.
When will the restructuring of public transportation start? What changes should travelers expect?
We want to organize state services on the level of prefectures, and in this way we are modifying the health education centers. Many governments have undertaken the reform of health, education and social systems, but no one has ever reconciled this with a transportation map of Hungary. We would like to achieve when talking about health reform that we also discuss how patients get to a given hospital. There are places where it is necessary to reorganize the trains and the bus services, but there are also parts of the country where it is not possible to use public transportation, where it is only possible to get to a treatment center by car. We have to change the practice by which Volán (the national bus company) has ignored the needs of the traveling public for years when preparing schedules. We need to organize a unified, country-public transportation system in which train and bus schedules are harmonized. It is outrageous that twenty-five years after the system change there are still unresolved issues.
It is as though you are not speaking as a minister but still as a mayor.
If you you see it like that, then that is a compliment. The Prime Minister expects me to deal with these matters. I do this with the enthusiasm and vehemence characteristic of me as a mayor. I look for solutions because I learned over the past 15 years that you can neither govern a society without people nor against people. My style is too fast or too determined for some people. I am convinced that it is only possible to serve the country’s interest with this kind of purposeful politics and a lot of work.
Reference:
Hungarian Spectrum 
Mmmmm. Goodfriend as nemkívánatos személy, persona non grata. This should be fun to watch. — Webber, are you watching? Goodfriend only attended a conference, as you pointed out. Nothing more.
I got a solution: if Goodfriend–who is magnificent and objective–is considered ‘persona non grata’, Obama should immediately appoint John R. Bolton. Then the Hungaricoes will really discover what ‘tough’ is!
Does this guy believe the stuff he’s promoting? I’m still shuddering from reading this …
Just one example – he claims:
” This world violently, and with money, spreads its convictions such as disregard for the fact that, irrespective of their political proclivities, two-thirds of Hungarians understand a family to refer to the relationship between a man and a woman, and give them the right to raise children.”
He’s more than crazy – good night, Hungary!
According to informations some times ago Orbán was familiar with the expression “shoot oneself in the foot”, at least he quoted it in accordance with the EU decision against Russia.
Either he has managed to forget it, or the translator working only to Ildikó Vida and unable to help him out. Should seek expert counsel urgently in the matter, before its too late!
This whole thing is resembles more and more to a badly written and catastrophically performed high school play, when the only goal is to impress family, friends and mistresses, nothing more.
Omfg, I would say!
What a load of rubbish!!! So far from reality that is there really anything to say?
I think it’s unlikely that Mr. Goodfriend will have his diplomatic status waved as the courts will most likely ask questions that he’ll not be allowed to answer due to his position or US law. That would put him in jeopardy having to face something that is tantamount to a show trial. I think the state dept. isn’t stupid enough to fall into that trap. Plus everyone knows that Mr. Goodfriend didn’t say anything about anyone. It was the sources that leaked the information that Vida should be going after. But then, maybe that have a angle that we’re unaware of. But still, it seems like an unwise, dangerous move given the current climate.
@wolfi – There is a Scandinavian expression: when someone frightened of darkness, he/she is “mörkrädd”.
That’s the way I feel toward Hungary at the moment, the utter darkness (of the minds) is simply frightening..!
As the last couple of decades went by without even being noticed there, or what?
This guy does not make sense and/or is incompetent or the article is incorrectly translated:
How do you assess the IH?
Second part: “Naturally, Hungary does not spy on its allies but it is better to be afraid than to be frightened. ”
Is being afraid and being frightened basically not the same?
“The task of intelligence was changed at the time of the financial crisis so that it helps the government’s work, not only with collecting information but with financial and money market analysis as well.”
They did not see the Russian crisis coming and/or warned the government about this, so that they were not caught by surprise.
Third part: “n a country with a high ratio of state and household foreign exchange debt, we are more vulnerable to, and dependent on, foreign interests.:
More dependent on foreign interests, this is not what they were telling before. Who is lying?
“My job is to direct the attention of the intelligence service colleagues to the performance of these tasks. ”
OMG he is also the head of the security services? He is doing a poor job.
“Unfortunately, the American wire tapping and spying scandals of the past few years have made it clear that our allies do not respect our partners, ”
Partners, who is he talking about Iran, Russia, China?
And this goes on, and on and on.
Janos Lazar is the de facto prime minister (the primus inter pares) of the Hungarian government.
Orban is already the president, the decider, the chairman.
Just as János Kadar was the party *chairman* and thus the paramount politician, regardless of who the prime minister actually was, as such person changed from time to time, but such change didn’t affect Kadar’s power at all. Horthy was a similar strategic executive, chairman type of politician, who had the power to decide any matters or issues of course, but didn’t want to work so much as to actually be a prime minister (and of course he didn’t want to expose himself to elections).
So whatever Lazar says, he says it as the de facto prime minister of Hungary.
(János Áder, the president of the republic is just a figurehead, who rubberstamps the laws which get in front of him, so for all political purposes he’s irrelevant.)
In fairness, it is a very poor translation which doesn’t excuse Lázár, but I don’t think his case is helped by awfulness of this text. Usually the sign of a good translator is that the target language reads naturally. This text is still under influence of the original grammatical structures which is what bad translations are (and I’ve certainly done enough of them).
If you want to know what I mean, read things Eva Balogh has translated here. Hers fall into natural English … it can be done.
To 500Ft/ hour netto. Riches. Buy a used flat in no time at all on that kind of money, thank you sir!
Is this perhaps why your government is far ahead of the EC in proscribing nicotine supplies for e-cigarettes (which all serious scientists worldwide agree are a fantastic tool to decrease tobacco use), thus playing into the hands of the tobacco and pharmaceutical companies? Whle simultaneously reaching out your hand to the WHO for a friendly lick, because your Nemzeti Dohányboltok are such an “effective” tobacco-control measure? Do try to be coherent. Except when your mates in the tobacco-supply industry don’t want you to be, of course, wouldn’t want to offend them.
Good luck raising those children on that 500Ft/hour. Oh no sorry, I forgot, the shockingly low payrates in Hungary are not real, just propaganda from the Sinister Global Gay Conspiracy… “Let’s tell those Hungarians how hard it is to afford to raise a family: then they’ll all turn gay…. MWUHAHAHAH!”
Because you gave them Hungarian citizenship. Under such a well-functioning system that refugees from Donetsk region might well be walking around Uzhorod with Hungarian passports (assuming they managed to bring enough hard currency with them to pay for their “Hungarian language and ancestry validation”).
I get it. In Hungary you’re free to express yourself, but the with the exercise of that freedom comes the responsibility to admit that you’re just a sockpuppet of US foreign policy. Because it’s inconceivable that Hungarians might independently think things through and end up a bit pissed off about things.
It’s the normal order of life, for those who can do it, because in the Hungary you’ve created it’s impossible for children to get ahead without that kind of help. by their own hard work and ingenuity. And if you don’t have parents who can do this? Well, there’s always streets to be cleaned…
Am I the only one who frinds the phrase “Dolgozni kell, nem szabad elbizonytalanodni” deeply sinister?
@Ron
“Is being afraid and being frightened basically not the same?”
As I know it isn’t. Being afraid is continuous, while being frightened – of something – happens once. I guess he is referring to the proverb which states that it is better to be afraid – and be prepared thereof – than frightened of sudden and unforeseeable events.
However, its bollocks in whichever meaning.
The real beauty is this part: “In a country with a high ratio of state and household foreign exchange debt, we are more vulnerable to, and dependent on, foreign interests.”
Now think about the Russian loan to build PaksII – it is in Euros!
The Russians are indeed “foreigners” – as is yet today, anyway – and their interest is all but the same as the Hungarian’s. So, how is it really?
This is the Russian media and PR playbook. Whatever the Russians did in Russia, will be done in Hungary too.
There’s an interesting article by Masha Gessen (who happens to be lesbian) in which she writes about Russian efforts in ‘its sphere of influence’ to promote two laws, the same two laws everywhere.
One is about the registration of NGOs which receive foreign aid (we know that this is under preparation in Hungary too) and the other is an anti-gay law, a ban on the “propaganda of homosexuality” (my sense is that this is also contemplated by one of Fidesz’ most reliable law firms, where controversial legislation is often outsourced to).
I think Fidesz will be using, preparing for all of the Russian tricks (hell, it has been using them for long), and will decide as it goes along which are such which could be introduced.
If the ban on propaganda of homosexuality is introduced (and I think it will be), it will cause a predictable uproar by the urban liberals. The perfect weapon. Those demonstrators will finally reveal themselves as the “Liberals” who wanted to corrupt our kids all along. See, we have nothing against homosexuality, we just don’t want people to propagate it, what’s the problem with that? And most voters will agree.
The war against the jewish, capitalistic, homosexuality propagandist US is the same useful enemy which has been working for Putin perfectly. Orban will try that too, I have no doubt about that.
Orban’s voters base, based on this election system, is in rural, outside Budapest regions. People are conservative there, and anyway blame the EU, Budapest (the sinful capital), the US for their problems. The audience is prepared.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/opinion/masha-gessen-putinspeak-in-kyrgyzstan.html
@jódli – And do not forget dear Adolf with the frighteningly similar principles, not to mention the goals. Well, great soul-mates and all that…
@HiBoM “If you want to know what I mean, read things Eva Balogh has translated here. Hers fall into natural English … it can be done.” Thanks for the compliment. I noticed the problems but I couldn’t possibly do much about it. It would have been too great a job.
As for someone’s complaint about the translation of “jobb félni mint megijedni” as “it is better to be afraid than frightened” I must admit that I changed it myself from “it is better to be afraid than to panic.” I think my translation is quite correct. The two words are close in meaning but “to be frightened” to me means captured by sudden fright as opposed to be in the state of constant fear.
As for the first question in the text, the original read like this: “What do you make of the fact that you are responsible for overseeing the Information Authority….” which bears no resemblance to the original: “Hogy értékeli az ön felügyelete alá tartozó Információs Hivatal …. munkáját?” Again, here I interfered. I guess one could use here something else than “assess” and could say “how satisfied are you with the work of the HI…” but assess is OK here, I think.
About translating in general. I must admit that I find it very difficult and it takes me ages. I think one of my problems is that English and Hungarian “live” separately in my head and at times the simplest words don’t come to me. Also one occasionally has to take liberties to come up with an English sentence which closely approximates the original’s meaning without the awkwardness of the original.
I always thought that “jobb félni mint megijedni” was “better safe than sorry” in English.
Finkelstein introduced a delusional warp to Hungary wich gave Orban a short term immunity.
This all lawyer fid/job clique is acting bravely, and can not imagine that they will end up jail.
When the fog of confusion is gone, the jail gate will close behind this team.
@Buddy, you should do all the translations for HS. You are very good at it. Yes, you are right. This is the best translation.
Thank you, Éva. But I think you are quite good at it yourself!
May I offer yet another translation option to “jobb félni, mint megijedni”? “It is better to be afraid than to be startled”.
Personally, I thought the interview was hilarious, even given that it is with a self-serving politician. Very revealing in many ways.
There is honesty: “The United States does not take into consideration the traditions of the region, the country’s traditions. Unfortunately, they don’t want to understand Central European history and national characteristics.” I’m not sure, though, whether the tried and true Hungarian tradition he is referring to is corruption or whether he means not being so gauche as to actually come out and call the child by its name, as they say. (I don’t know how many Hungarians I’ve had tell me, “Yes, we know that’s what happening, but you can’t SAY it out loud!”).
There is a form of cognitive dissonance: “The demonstrations are proof that the right to the freedom of expression exists in Hungary. The demonstrations are as though the American embassy had assumed the role of the Hungarian political opposition.” We allow Hungarians to protest, but Hungarians are not protesting. Weird, since I have yet to meet one Hungarian who wasn’t disturbed by the proposed Internet tax some weeks back. The anger was palpable and no one needed a call from the US Embassy to take to the streets.
And there is the “say what” factor: “Today there is a political campaign afoot built on jealousy organized by the opposition that involves accusing everyone of corruption and living high off the hog, especially the younger politicians who are in power. They are doing that with me, those who for the past 25 years look down on Hungarian reality from the homes in the hills of Buda….” I assume he doesn’t mean his son with that Buda hills comment, since doesn’t he have a place there? Or is the kid hanging out in his vineyard, which he also apparently has?
http://www.politics.hu/20141210/ten-year-old-son-of-orban-chief-of-staff-lazar-gets-huf-60-million-house-in-buda-hills/
Pretty industrious little tyke.
Either way, I doubt he really believes in what he said. If they really start believing their own lies, then they are finished. The Hungarian reality certainly isn’t what he described there. Are there any Hungarians who don’t know AT LEAST one compatriot who has left the country to find work? Why are there still for sale signs in so many houses and flats?
Curly I too have heard people say of Fidesz corruption at the local level say that they know there is corruption but it was best not to talk about it. I have also heard the same Hungarians complain of Fidesz corruption on the national level. So many supposed favors are done on the local level that people often think local officals are not all bad, so,why start trouble ahol élünk mindennapos.
Lázár is full of bull, brazen eye-wash, bluff and ludicrous humbug.
One comment of his struck me as particularly hilarious:
“In economic terms, we have now pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps to become one of the three best performing countries in the European Union. There is no Western analysis that would fail to acknowledge our economic performance… . (Most, gazdasági értelemben az unió három legjobban teljesítő országa közé küzdöttük fel magunkat. Nincs olyan nyugati elemzés, amely ne ismerné el a gazdasági teljesítményünket… .)”
Yeah, that is why Hungarian living standards are so sky-high, and why droves of people from Western Europe are trying to immigrate to Hungary, instead of the other way around… . And anyway, if the West is so villanous, in terminal decline, and unimportant, except as a source of handsome dollops of dole in billions of euros and dollars, wherefore is this proud reference to “Western analysis”, as though all of a sudden it mattered one whit as to what the accursed “West” thinks or does not think?
The Hungarian propensity for self-deception, delusional misapprehension of the world around them and self-referential boorishness never ceases to astound.
Essentially what we have today in Hungary is a fascistoid regime that operates like an extended mafia family for the purpose of vastly enriching the family members by treating the country as their personal milching cow, whilst feeding the populace on nationalist eye-wash, bull and humbug, to keep them in quiet and obedient servitude. A parliamentary putsch that enabled the abolishing of constitutional checks and balances, and a continuous stream of additional self-serving illiberal legislation, then serve to consolidate and cement the power of the ruling fascistoid mafia for generations to come.
The only thing that could change this catastrophic situation is a two thirds win by a strong opposition party or coalition in a future national election, because only a two thirds parliamentary majority could reverse the constitutional putsch and other illiberal legislation of the Orbán regime.
But that is not even on the horizon.
So the best of luck to hapless Hungary, once again a victim of its own lunacy. Faithfully to its best historical traditions, Hungary has again well and truly succeeded in shooting itself in the foot. She will surely need all the luck of the world to make it even to the starting post.
Good Morning on this lovely day before Christmas Day.
Just as jódli referred to it above, Orban long time ago opened the script book written in Moscow and has been using it. Why would not he be? It’s worked once, it’s gonna work again, his ‘advisors’ assure him.
Yesterday, just like Putin a day before, he gave an “interview” (a televised sermon) about the state of the world.
The Lazar interview was with the acting prime minister, but Orban is the de facto president (El senor Presidente).
Orban’s views are no less ludicrous, deranged, harebrained than Lazar’s.
The bottom line: It’s the Americans, stupid.
http://444.hu/2014/12/23/orban-magyarorszagon-tipikus-amerikai-titkosszolgalati-befolyasszerzo-akcio-zajlik/
‘Hungary’s pro-Russian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, accused the U.S. of using corruption allegations against Hungary as a ‘”cover story” to increase American influence in Europe.’
–the NYTimes blurbing a Reuters article.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/23/us-hungary-usa-idUSKBN0K11VE20141223
Reading all this and listening to what family and friends have to say I have to correct Mike Balint re:
“Hungary has again well and truly succeeded in shooting itself in the foot”
It’s more like Hungary has shot itself in the groin …
Hungary’s old friends the Austrians and Germans are terribly disappointed – maybe a few right wing loonies (the Haider type …) applaud but everybody else is shaking there heads. How could this happen when 25 years ago we all were so glad that Hungary (and the other countries in the Eastern bloc) returned to democracy?
The only hope is that this just a temporary thing like Haider, Berlusconi and the Kaszinskys – but it will take a long time and Hungary will fall back behind its neighbours …
@Wondercat – I’m surprised, just constantly disappointed by how predictable Fidesz is. Ordinary Hungarians working for in state jobs and even at some private companies run by Fidesz fans lose their jobs for appearing at protests, for following opposition parties, for attending the wrong conference, or even for reading the wrong newspaper (I personally know someone). For example, the grocery chain, CBA, insisted that its employees attend a pro-government “Peace March”, and it was clear that employees who didn’t attend might lose their jobs.
It’s just logical that they’d want to expel foreign diplomats for attending conferences they don’t like, or even for meeting opposition politicians (even though US ambassadors met Fidesz people when Fid. was in opposition).
In Hungary today, though opposition to Fidesz isn’t a crime, it means being a traitor, and there can be no mercy for traitors.
Reblogged this on hungarywolf.
Typed too fast – “I’m NOT surprised…” is how that should have started.
I love the subtext in Lázár’s comments: of course I have a lot of nice stuff, I work for a living! And if you would just get off your lazy butt, then you too would have a Rolex and a 60m Ft. apartment to give to your kids! How dare you criticize me for being a hard worker, obviously you’re just jealous!
Remember, Lázár is also the one who said, as mayor of Hódmezővásárhely, “I have never been ashamed of what I have, as I work hard. I grew up in a milieu in which work was not shameful, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of the results of your work either – people should scrape by, save up, and build brick-by-brick. Whoever is not capable of this, whoever has nothing, is worth just as much. Whoever has done nothing with their life, is worth just as much, I can tell you that. Their life is worth that much. That’s my opinion.”
The irony, of course, is that this is a very, very American attitude and mindset, despite what he actually says about US and Hungarian interests. Many if not most Americans would agree with him.
But what is *not* accepted by most Americans, though, is using this type of reasoning as a pretext to justify corruption and extra-legal enrichment of pubic officials, which Lázár appears to be doing.
It reminds me a great deal of Alec Baldwin’s fantastic speech in Glengarry Glen Ross, especially the moment when he flaunts his expensive watch:
@Louis Munkachy, “startled” is definitely better than “frightened.” Here is just one phrase, one expression and what difficulties we encounter.
I just read Zsolt Bayer’s latest vituperative essay in which he wrote this sentence: “Ugyanaz a húszezer szerencsétlen rohangál tüntetésről tüntetésre, de a virtuális térben már forradalmat csacsognak a dróton rángatottak, akiket megvettek, s akik eladták a lelküket.” Just one word here “szerencsétlen” is a huge problem when it comes to translating it. If you look in the standard Hungarian-English dictionary you will find “unlucky, unfortunate, unhappy, luckless, wretched, miserable, hapless, poor” but neither even approximates the meaning of the word in this context. If one looks for the word in Magyar Értelmező Szótár you learn that indeed it can be a person who is “gyámoltalan, ügyefogyott.” I disregard the first word because it means “helpless” and surely this is not what he means here talking about the demonstrators. So, I picked “ügyefogyott” for which the H-E dictionary gives all sorts of wrong translations like “awkward, clumsy, unhappy, helpless, fumbling, gawky, shiftless.” So, we are back to “helpless.” But here perhaps the best translation would be “simple-minded people,” the meaning which can be found nowhere. All this takes enormous amount of time.
Addendum to the above: half-wits would be even better.
Thanks to Zsolt Bayer.
He will help everybody to see the criminal nature of fid/job leaders.
Everybody must deny the legitimacy to the fid/job leaders, represented by Zsolt Bayers very powerfully.
The Hungarian Spectrum can fulfill the job of Sandor Marai, who endlessly tried to guide the people back to honor and dignity.
To Mike Balint:the very accurate diagnosis of the hungarian disease.You definitely made my day.
Mike Balint is accurate.
I find Whe western leaders terrible.
They fail their own people sometimes, too.
They ignored the crimes of orban regime, and they failed every decent Hungarian this time.
Who will correct these errors?
Which Western leader follow the example of Senator John McCaine.
He is my hero.
Just a reminder to Mr. Lazar.
Laszlo Köver has been the de facto head of the Fidesz-loyal faction of the intelligence community for 25 years, which includes the times when Fidesz was in opposition. This may not say that much, but by now the community is 100% loyal to Fidesz (with some jobbikniks too).
Kövér started his public career in the field in 1990 when Kövér replaced Gabor Demszky as head of the Parliament’s national security committee (as the former dissident Demszky became a mayor of Budapest). Kövér also supervised the intelligence agencies as a minister.
Kövér was also famous for recording people those who dared to cross him in his little notebook. He’s not one to forget or to forgive, although he will never attack the top dog either, who is Orban.
The point is, Kövér has the files and access to the files on everybody and knows everyone.
Lazar is a young gun, but Kövér was friends with the Hungarian siloviki already when Lazar was still in elementary school. Kövér should not be underestimated by Lazar.
Eva, I guess the word would rather be “hapless” than helpless in this context, – even if I was betting to “miserable” at first.
The trouble is with the high number of possible variations in Hungarian, and all of them has a slightly different nuance of the – literally – same meaning.
All in all, I have the highest admiration regarding the work what you put into making the world understand just what’s going on in Hungary!
Thank you! (And I don’t say this just because its Christmas, you know.)
At the new origo.hu, still one of the most popular internet sites and still owned by Magyar Telekom (owned by Deutsche Telekom) but by now firmly in line with Fidesz’ media strategy (origo.hu is decidedly not RTL) business as usual.
Long article, with many comments, expert editing
Title:
“According to French experts, the Americans shot down the Malaysian plane over Ukraine”
http://www.origo.hu/nagyvilag/20141222-francia-szakerto-szerint-amerikaiak-lohettek-le-a-malaj-utasszallitot.html
Hmmmm….
“I have never been ashamed of what I have, as I work hard. I grew up in a milieu in which work was not shameful…”
The problem isn’t by itself that you working, but what exactly is the work what you do?!
Think about it:
“I have never been ashamed of what I have, as I work hard. I grew up in a milieu in which work was not shameful” – said the hangman…
It has a certain flavour, hasen’t it?
“hasn’t it” – as it was supposed to, sorry!
Did anyone read this article written by Laszlo Szily? Apparently Gyurcsany wants to go to someone else’s demonstration with flags and banners of his party. Even though the organizers made it clear that they don’t want him and his friends there like that. Is he just provoking other opposition figures or does he have some larger plan behind tihs?
“”Does Gyurcsany get paid by Orban?
http://cink.hu/gyurcsany-ferenc-vajon-penzt-is-kap-orbantol-szavazz-1674438743
“Ever since Gyurcsany called on his faithful followers to crush the january 2nd civic demonstration, I can’t decide why did he do that. (Gyurcsany asked his bootlickers to bring flags of the Gyurcsany Party to the demonstration) I understand of course that the political future of Gyurcsany is very important to protect. And that these demonstrations mean a clear and present threat to it, not Viktor Orban and Fidesz which ensure Gyurcsany’s survival. And if the demonstrators are the enemy then Fletó the clever villain could do nothing else then hug them closely and thus cover them with slime. Defeating them altogether.”
“Mióta Gyurcsány felszólította a híveit, hogy tegyék tönkre a január 2-ai civil tüntetést azzal, hogy pártzászlókkal vonulnak fel, egyszerűen képtelen vagyok eldönteni, miért tette ezt. Oké, azt természetesen értem, hogy Gyurcsány Ferencnek a politikai jövője szempontjából ezek a civil tüntetések jelentik az egyetlen konkurenciát, ellentétben Orbán Viktorral és a Fidesszel, akik a megmaradásának a zálogai. És ha egyszer politikai ellenfelek a tüntetők, akkor a dörzsölt Fletó mi mást tenne, mint rájuk mászik, mint a csiga, benyálazza őket, ezzel győzve le őket.”””
@beacon. Let me correct yours and Szily’s version of the story. Members of DK as members and supporters of other democratic parties have been regulars at the demonstrations. In fact, 80% of the demonstrators today would vote for one of the “Osszefogás” parties. 18% for LMP and only 2% for Jobbik. What Gyurcsány suggests that all parties show their faces. After all, they are the ones who attend the demonstrations. Without parties there is no democracy and the organizers without parties will get nowhere. I support the idea.
@i-magyar .. it’s the HUNGARIAN PEOPLES’ job to sort things out in Hungary. Not western leaders. McCain DOES deserve credit for calling out what he sees going on there in Hungary – but in the end it’s the job of the Hungarian people themselves to improve the quality of governance in their country.. Not that I see that happening anytime soon.. but seriously.. that’s the only solution that can have the possibility of succeeding for the long term.