Gáspár Miklós Tamás on Orbán’s brave new illiberal world

Gáspár Miklós Tamás, a prominent Hungarian political philosopher summarized on ATV’s Straight Talk (Egyenes Beszéd) program what key ideas form the pillars of the new regime that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced in his speech at Tusnádfürdő/Băile Tușnad, Romania, when Mr. Orbán spoke with great enthusiasm about the final demise of liberal democracy in Hungary.

Miklós Gáspár Tamás

Gáspár Miklós Tamás

  • The government seeks to build an illiberal state, characterized by the eradication of all remaining checks and balances in the Hungarian political system. Mr. Tamás reminded viewers of Mr. Orbán’s bizarrely honest reaction to the American institution of impeachment, and the fact that the Senate can hold to account a president who over-steps his authority and abuses the powers invested in his office. The Hungarian prime minister indicated that he would never tolerate these types of restrictions on his activity by any elected body.
  • Mr. Tamás added that this past weekend, the Hungarian prime minister candidly expressed his doubts in parliamentary democracy, as such.
  • Mr. Orbán announced that the principle of human rights is outdated.
  • The Hungarian prime minister declared that Hungary must break with the practices of the welfare state.
  • Finally, Mr. Orbán suggested that the political models closest to his worldview are those found in authoritarian countries like China, Russia and Singapore.
  • In a final attack on civil society, Mr. Orbán noted that NGO’s and charities operating in the country are the insidious agents of foreign interests.

According to Mr. Tamás what the prime minister announced in Tusnádfürdő is a “break with the moral, political and societal consensus that  has existed in the ‘free world’ since 1945 and in Hungary after 1989, and a break with the principles of freedom and equality.”

Mr Tamás reminded viewers of the words “arbeit mach frei,” (work will set you free), a German phrase used by Nazis during the Holocaust, in his discussion of what Mr. Orbán referred to as a “labour-based state.” This type of state stands in sharp contrast to the principle of social justice and has no regard for those living on the margins of society. While in a free country and in a society where solidarity is valued, there would be mass demonstrations upon hearing Mr. Orbán’s plans, in Hungary there is almost only silence.

The philosopher added that Mr. Orbán would not likely leave his position of power and could not be voted out of office.

The consensus among a growing number of thinkers in Hungary is that Mr. Orbán’s regime is here to stay for the long-haul. This then begs the question: what strategy will Hungarian opposition parties devise, if there is no real chance of ever removing the Fidesz government through a free and fair election?

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