Viktor Orbán’s xenophobic speech at the ThyssenKrupp factory opening

Why did the German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp give a podium to Viktor Orbán?

On March 2, 2018 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán inaugurated a new plant for Thyssenkrupp at Jászfényszaru, Hungary. Orbán started by saying, “Naturally, I don’t wish to use the present occasion for campaign purposes,” then immediately launched into a campaign stump speech against migrants and foreigners. He delivered his usual xenophobic and racist message; although, and for this he deserves credit, he didn’t once mention his nemesis, George Soros.

Orbán said, “but I’d like to point out briefly that every project, every job created here, every town development and the dramatic development of Jászfényszaru itself can only be meaningful and enduring if we are able to protect Hungary, and if we can keep the country how we want it to be. If we falter, if we make the wrong decision, if we fail to protect Hungary, within a few years all our developments will prove to have been in vain. If we are no longer Hungarians, if Hungary fails to remain a country of Hungarians, our developments will be of no benefit to us.”

“Because the world – at least as I see and understand it – is heading in a direction in which the only communities which survive and gain in strength will be those which truly know who they are. This means that Hungary, too, can only be successful if it remains a country of Hungarians and does not abandon its traditions…. Therefore our position is clear. We do indeed sympathize with those peoples of the world which are experiencing hardships, but our position is that their problems should not be brought here: instead of bringing problems here, help must be taken there.”

ThyssenKrupp is a large company and has a corporate “Diversity Charter” which is part of their Human Resources policy. Here is an excerpt.

“Diversity breed success. We believe that different cultures enrich us and make working together more enjoyable and more successful. We are committed to a corporate policy that values, supports, and utilizes diversity.” (Read ThyssenKrupp’s charter here.)

Heinrich Hiesinger CEO of ThyssenKrupp and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

It is shameful that ThyssenKrupp let Prime Minister Orbán deliver a speech which was against ThyssenKrupp’s own corporate charter as well as core human values. I will ask Heinrich Hiesinger, ThyssenKrupp’s CEO, to comment on this incident because I believe that his company owes an apology to his diverse shareholders and public for this unfortunate inauguration speech. What do you think?

György Lázár

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