Orbán’s state of the nation speech defiant, militant and illiberal

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gave what was by all accounts a strongly defiant speech, in which he responded to his government’s massive defeat in a Veszprém by-election last Sunday by noting that the right just had to “fight” harder, in order to ensure that what he  thinks is an international smear campaign against his regime does not have a impact effect in the future. “We were dreaming that calmer years were coming. The government is faced with a relentless, constant negative campaign. This is how the Socialists were able to make a comeback”–remarked Mr. Orbán, referring to when his first government (1998-2002) was narrowly defeated by a left-centre alliance of Socialists and Free Democrats.

Mr. Orbán then proceeded to critique what he referred to as “liberal multiculturalism” and added that Europe is unable to face the difficult truth about its failure. “Immigrants are arriving who are endangering Europe’s security. Hungary must remain a stable and secure place,” added Mr. Orbán.

From a foreign policy perspective, Mr. Orbán believes that Hungary has become the “leader” in Central Europe, even though some foreign opinion makers seem to find Hungary’s foreign policy “confounding.” The prime minister mentioned that recently, one head-of-state. three prime ministers and nine foreign affairs ministers have visited Budapest, suggesting that this is evidence of the success of the country’s shaky and confused foreign policy, which seems to see-saw between seeking the goodwill of Vladimir Putin’s Russia, whilst not angering partners in western and central Europe. Hungary has had plenty of trouble on this front, especially in terms of the government’s visibly weakened relationship with Poland, and the fact that the Visegrád Four group is increasingly falling into irrelevancy.

Mr. Orbán declared that the Hungarian economy was ” a success story.” Tourism has increased markedly, there was more foreign investment in the country, pensions have been protected and utility prices have been forced down through government legislation. “The impossible is not a fact, it is an opinion”, said Mr. Orbán, quoting an unnamed Hungarian dentist who reportedly managed to run the 200 km distance between Athens and Sparta on several occasions.

Mr. Orbán's State of the Nation address on February 27th, 2015. Photo: Facebook.

Mr. Orbán’s State of the Nation address on February 27th, 2015. Photo: Facebook.

In terms of the stunning Fidesz-KDNP defeat in the Veszprém by-election, Mr. Orbán said that “perhaps we are not fighting enough or not fighting hard enough.”

“Let’s not sit around, let’s do our jobs. We can only create a civic Hungary, if everyone for whom this is important, actually works for it. Anyone who thinks that there is a final victory in a democracy is mistaken. Only the communists believed in this, and look where they are now,” he added.

This was Mr. Orbán’s usual mantra of voluntarism–the concept that everything can be achieved through sheer will, determination and strength. The prime minister added that he believes his regime can be maintained over the long-run (Népszava’s reporting on the speech focused on this element) and that the Socialists cannot be allowed to return to power.

There was very little new in Mr. Orbán’s speech and little indication that he was hoping to change course (especially in terms of Hungary’s problematic foreign policy). Yet some of his most enthusiastic supporters, including Gábor Borókai, the editor-in-chief of Heti Válasz, suggests that the government appears to have lots its way. “We feel that the government has lost its ability to listen,” remarked Mr. Borókai.

For those of us who have not been avid supporters of the regime, it is difficult to remember a time when it ever displayed any capacity to listen.

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