A couple of days ago President Bill Clinton talked about the Hungarian and Polish governments during a rally in New Jersey. “Poland and Hungary – two countries that would not be free but for the United States and the long Cold War – have now decided this democracy is too much trouble,” and continued to say “they want Putin-like dictatorships.”
Clinton drew parallels between Republican candidate Donald Trump and the current rhetoric of the Hungarian and Polish governments, and said “Just give me an authoritarian dictatorship and keep the foreigners out, sound familiar?” (Watch President Clinton’s statement here.)
U.S. President Bill Clinton
Hungarian-American organizations have criticized President Clinton’s statements and defended Viktor Orbán. Mr. Frank Koszorus of The Hungarian-American Federation issued a joint letter with Mr. Frank Spula of the Polish American Congress claiming that they are “disturbed by the offensive comments made last week by former President Bill Clinton impugning the civic character of the populations of Poland and Hungary.” (Read the letter here.)
Of course, Mr. Koszorus may voice his views but he shouldn’t pose as the representative of all Hungarians. Mr. Koszorus barely speaks Hungarian, yet he claims to be an expert of “the civic character” of the populations of Hungary.
Mr. Frank Koszorus, The Hungarian-American Federation (left) and US Ambassador Colleen Bell (third from left) in Budapest
Hungarian-Americans have always opposed totalitarian regimes and overwhelmingly support the Democratic Party. The majority of Hungarian-Americans voted for President Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and also support President Obama. In the 1930s President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was an even more popular president among Hungarian-Americans.
Many of us agree with President Clinton that Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has made a worrisome turn toward authoritarianism and think that the Obama administration should initiate policy steps. Mr. Orbán calls his style of government “illiberal democracy,” and considers Russian President Vladimir Putin his role-model.
I’m sure that most Hungarian-Americans are baffled by Mr. Orbán’s paranoid counter accusations of President Clinton. He has called him the pawn of a “shadow empire,” saying that “behind the leaders of the Democratic Party we must see George Soros. The mouth is Clinton’s but the voice is of George Soros.” Orbán has also said that he agrees with Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Poland’s ruling Law & Justice party, that those who are critical of his policies “should undergo medical checks.”
It might be time to consider a new Hungarian-American organization to represent the sentiments of the majority of Hungarian-Americans, because we don’t want to see a Putin-like dictatorship in Hungary.
In the past, the Polish American Congress expressed strong criticism of Russian President Putin. I called Mr. Spula’s office to inquire about his surprising support of pro-Putin Viktor Orbán. I was told that he was busy and couldn’t answer questions but would be happy to respond to written inquiries.
Mr. Frank Spula, Polish American Congress (with award) supports pro-Putin Viktor Orbán
I ask again: Why does the Polish American Congress support pro-Putin Viktor Orbán? Many of my Polish-American friends would love to know the answer. We hope that Mr. Spula soon find time to respond.
György Lázár
