Hungary’s former PM suggests Orbán made pact with the Antichrist

Two of Hungary’s left-centre opposition parties demonstrated on Sunday in Budapest against the Orbán government’s inhumane handling of the refugee crisis. The Socialists, however, have been relatively quiet on the issue of the refugees, probably realizing that this is not a topic that will win them many new votes. In contrast, political leaders in both the Democratic Coalition (DK) and in the Együtt party (Together) spoke out very forcefully and sometimes using colourful language against the Fidesz government. Péter Juhász, a prominent municipal politician affiliated with Együtt and known for his brash, outspoken speech said that Petra László, the camerawoman who caused international outrage by assaulting Syrian refugees in Röszke, was a “one of Orbán’s political products.”

“The prime minister is an inhumane, merciless, football hooligan,” remarked Mr. Juhász. He added that because of his actions, Hungary is effectively being kicked out of “civilized Europe.” He then had some choice words for Fidesz’s main political ally, the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP), which is a phantom party that manages to secure seats in parliament by running jointly with Mr. Orbán’s party, but is completely beholden to Fidesz.

“KDNP, go “f*ck yourself, together with your ethics curriculum,” yelled Mr. Juhász, referring to obligatory ethics courses supported by the party, widely seen as painfully hypocritical, in Hungary’s schools.

Mr. Juhász argued that Hungary should settle between 10,000 to 15,000 refugees this year. This is actually a much lower figure than the quota proposed by the European Commission, which would see Hungary settle 54,000 asylum-seekers. Mr. Juhász was critical of the Socialists, noting that it was unacceptable that the largest left-centre opposition party “didn’t have a clue” as to how it might handle the refugee crisis.

Péter Juhász was joined by Együtt party’s vice president Viktor Szigetvári in the march outside Parliament. The politicians carried a banner which read “Shame on you, Orbán!” Attendance at the rally was estimated at around 3,500. That’s hardly a revolutionary crowd, but on a positive note, the proportion of young people among the demonstrators was quite high.

As could be expected, it was former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, one of Hungary’s better and most passionate orators, who made the biggest media “splash” at the other opposition rally held  this Sunday, even though according to the left-centre daily Népszabadság, attendance at his protest was under 500.

Ferenc Gyurcsány speaking in Budapest on September 13th. Photo: Noémi Bruzák / MTI.

Ferenc Gyurcsány speaking in Budapest on September 13th. Photo: Noémi Bruzák / MTI.

“You can’t proclaim a Christian Europe and a Christian Hungary, and then make a pact with the Antichrist,” declared Mr. Gyurcsány, sending a clear message to Prime Minister Orbán.

“When someone is drowning, I don’t start asking him about his faith or about his origins. When someone is in trouble, we have to help. The highest moral commandment is for us to safeguard his life,” said Mr. Gyurcsány. As most of our readers will know, the former prime minister has by now provided temporary housing in his own home to several dozen Syrian refugees, and he reminded his audience today of this at the demonstration.

Mr. Gyurcsány’s central message, however, was to urge Hungarians not to be afraid of new people, of “the other.” He conceded that even people on the left of the political spectrum are afraid to open the country to newcomers.

“Hungarians were not free for 500 years, yet we still didn’t become Turks or Austrians. What’s there to fear?”–he asked, referring to Ottoman and then Habsburg occupations of the country. “The Hungarian nation was welcoming for a long period of time. We were enriched when we accepted foreign cultures. Never did this impoverish us,” added the former prime minister.

These views are refreshing, especially in light of the government’s insidious communications strategy. The problem is that outside of relatively small liberal circles, primarily in Budapest, they are quite rare and unpopular within much of Hungarian society.

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