Zoltán Vass, Hungary’s honorary consul in Vancouver, Canada, announced his resignation today, Budapest-based Klubrádió reported. Mr. Vass decided to resign in protest over two deep concerns that he had, regarding how Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government was operating both at home, but also in the Hungarian Canadian diaspora.
“The Orbán government has incrementally destroyed the pillars of democracy and continues to curb freedom of speech. Additionally, its economic and foreign policy has resorted to a number of questionable steps, with regards to our membership in the European Union and in NATO. All of these measures go against Hungary’s national interests,” observed Mr. Vass. In light of all this, the honorary consul felt that he could no longer, in good conscience, represent Hungary in British Columbia.
Zoltán Vass
Mr. Vass also observed what the Hungarian Free Press, our partner paper the Kanadai Magyar Hírlap and what the Canadian Hungarian Democratic Charter have all been saying for some time: Mr. Orbán’s government, using local Hungarian Canadian party loyalists and the Embassy of Hungary in Ottawa, have infused the diaspora community with a type of ultra-right-wing partisan politics that tolerates absolutely no voices of dissent and which has gutted the diaspora intellectually.
“It is especially unfortunate that Hungary’s domestic feuds have been transported overseas, and these have now appeared in Vancouver as well. The government, driven by party interests, has attempted to occupy all diaspora institutions and increasingly divides Hungarians living abroad. The government also peddles extremely dangerous illusions about the relationship between the nation and the state, and this will ultimately prove deeply destructive,” added Mr. Vass.
The Hungarian Free Press welcomes Mr. Vass’ principled protest and decision. We trust that other honorary consults will follow his example.
