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Péter Márki-Zay in Brussels

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When Péter Márki-Zay arrived in Brussels for a two-day visit, he was received with open arms by many influential EU politicians.

Prior to his arrival, Timothy Garton Ash, the noted expert on East Central Europe, wrote an opinion piece in The Guardian titled “Europe must seize this chance to help restore democracy in Hungary.” In the article, Garton Ash said that “EU officials should of course remain impartial but elected European politicians must not hold back.” Germany, which has been “an enabler of the erosion of democracy in Hungary,” has a particular responsibility in this respect, where a change of government is a perfect opportunity “to change the message and the tone.”

In Brussels, it was mostly two MEPs, Katka Cseh (Momentum) and István Ujhelyi (MSZP), who organized his schedule. Even before he arrived, Márki-Zay’s appointment book was filled with meetings with leading politicians from mainstream, meaning not the far-right or ultra-conservative, political groups. In addition, 200 Hungarians living in Brussels came to meet the opposition candidate.

Fidesz, however, was also prepared. To coincide with MZP’s visit, the producer of “Elkxurtuk” decided to hold the “international premier” of the propaganda film that had been released to coincide with the opposition’s election campaign. The film got terrible reviews in Hungary, and the story focusing on Klára Dobrev as the source of all evil bears no resemblance to the reality of the events of 2006. But these minor drawbacks didn’t prevent the true believers residing in Brussels from attending in order “to find out the truth.”

During his talk to the Hungarian colony in Brussels, MZP spent some time explaining the reasons for his success in Hódmezővásárhely, a Fidesz stronghold, and he outlined his plans, especially as far as Hungarian relations with the European Union are concerned. He said he wants to reassure EU leaders that “Hungary will be a loyal and faithful member of the European Union and NATO” once Viktor Orbán is gone. Dániel Deák, Fidesz’s loyal political scientist, countered that “he swore an oath to every political group, to every pro-immigration politician. The only thing he did not say was that he would be loyal to Hungary.”

Although Márki-Zay covered a lot of topics in his talk to Hungarians in Brussels, what made the greatest impression in Hungary was his comment about “the corrupt Viktor Orbán who is building a fascist party state.” Even Timothy Garten Ash, a severe critic of the regime, wrote only a day before this meeting that Orbán’s political system is a “hybrid regime.” MZP, however, is convinced that pussyfooting around is not the way to win in Hungarian politics at the moment. He is ready to use extreme methods, like his open talk about the presumed homosexuality of Gáspár Orbán, the prime minister’s only son, if he thinks they are politically effective.

While some people find the description of the Orbán regime as fascism an exaggeration, I’m not shaken by his description because it is hard not to detect elements of fascism in the present Hungarian system. Fascists, for instance, believe that liberal democracy is obsolete and that a one-party state is an answer to the new challenges. In the last ten years, Orbán’s dictatorial governance has nearly eliminated any effective political opposition, and many political commentators are convinced that he and the political system he built cannot be overthrown by democratic means. Therefore, one must agree with MZP that strong measures must be taken in order to battle the present regime.

Although I wasn’t shocked that the opposition candidate talked about fascism, I was astonished to hear what the Hungarian version of Euronews reported today. The lengthy article covers Márki-Zay’s whole career, yet its title is “Márki-Zay: The monarchy was more efficient than the EU.” Yes, he was talking about the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and, yes, MZP can come out with startling comments sometimes. But let’s quote the relevant passage: “The European Union has not yet reached the level of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1867, when not only was there a common currency, but also a common treasury, defense, and foreign affairs. If the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1867 was ahead of the European Union of today, then I believe that the Union still has a long way to go towards integration.”

Let’s stop here for a second. I assume we all remember the criticism that was showered on the Demokratikus Koalíció’s program for the creation of a future United Europe. The criticism came not just from the right but also from the left, which claimed that such a union will never materialize. As far as Orbán and his nationalists are concerned, endorsing such a plan is nothing short of treason.

So, let’s see what MZP means exactly. “The European Union today is not a democracy of half a billion people but a democracy of 27 heads of government, in which Viktor Orbán can, as one person, thwart a moral resolution, for example, the freedom of the Uighurs or Hong Kong.” He added: “I would like to see the effectiveness of European cooperation improved and strengthened. To give just one example, I do not think it is necessary to have 27 embassies in Bogota or Islamabad.”

Just wait until Fidesz discovers this heresy. We will never hear the end of it. And I’m afraid a lot of people will be stunned, even the more enlightened ones, because in the last 100 years history in Hungary has been taught from a nationalist perspective. In fact, during the Rákosi and most of the Kádár period, Hungary was described as a “colony” of Vienna. But MKZ, who has a Ph.D. in the history of economics, understands that Hungary benefited from being part of a larger economic unit.

Meeting of Klára Dobrev and Péter Márki-Zay

This bold position brings Márki-Zay very close to the ideas of DK on the future of the European Union. He declared several times during the primary campaign that his ideas on economic and social policies are closer to those of Klára Dobrev than those of Gergely Karácsony. In any case, Dobrev and Márki-Zay met in Brussels today, after which Dobrev posted the following comment: “A meaningful, good-natured meeting with Péter Márki-Zay, this time in Brussels, after a hugely successful primary election and ahead of a parliamentary election of a thousand times greater importance. I know many people are worried, so I am sending them a clear message: Orbán’s opposition is not only stronger today but more united than ever! DK and I personally fully support Péter Márki-Zay and the joint campaign.”

In this blog post, I’m just scratching the surface when it comes to MZP’s ideas on Hungary’s future and the country’s relations with the European Union. But, from what he said in Brussels, they point to a peaceful and consensual relationship with the European Union and its member states, which can only be lauded.

Márki-Zay is scheduled to travel to Warsaw to meet with Donald Tusk and other leaders of the Civic Platform. Otherwise, he is staying in Hungary, where “the election must be won.”

November 10, 2011

Blog posts by Eva S. Balogh also appear in Hungarian at https://ujnepszabadsag.com/


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