Hungary’s prime minister shamelessly calls for death penalty

Ever since the governing Fidesz party’s defeat in the Tapolca by-election to the far-right, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been shamelessly scrambling to appease and win back the support of those who voted for Jobbik. A few days ago, I wrote about the Orbán’s government overtly xenophobic “national consultation,” where a series of loaded questions suggest that immigration and terrorism are connected, and that Hungary has been overrun by foreigners. Now, Mr. Orbán has turned to capital punishment, suggesting that “we have to keep the question of the death penalty on the table.”

The prime minister made this statement during a visit to the southern Hungarian town of Pécs. The statement was a reaction to the recent murder of a shopkeeper in Hungary, which became headline news throughout the country. Mr. Orbán argued that the country’s “three strikes” approach is not enough of a deterrent when it comes to serious crime. The three strikes legislation, introduced by the Orbán government, already allows judges to hand down double the harshest sentences, in instances where the accused has committed a third violent crime against another person.

When it comes to the death penalty, however, Mr. Orbán knows very well that there is no chance of re-introducing it to Hungary, as such forms of punishment are banned in the European Union. The EU is unequivocal on this issue:

“The European Union holds a strong and principled position against the death penalty; its abolition is a key objective for the Union’s human rights policy. Abolition is, of course, also a pre-condition for entry into the Union. Indeed, the EU is the leading institutional actor and largest donor to the fight against the death penalty.”

There is no evidence to suggest that the death penalty serves as an effective deterrent to violent crime. The vast majority of criminologists (83%, according to an American study), do not see capital punishment as a deterrent. Even some pro-government publicists in Hungary were perplexed and irritated by Mr. Orbán’s most recent crass political move. Bálint Ablonczy of Heti Válasz wrote:

“Voters always prefer the original to a replica. Even if Fidesz wants to take up the race with Jobbik with its national consultation on immigration or with the death penalty, the radical right will always win this fight. The starting premise is false: Fidesz didn’t lose from its popularity because it isn’t tough enough. It is certain that appropriating political themes championed by Jobbik will prove just as effective as the death penalty is in deterring crime. It won’t be effective at all.”

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Miskolc earlier this month. Photo: Facebook.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Miskolc earlier this month. Photo: Facebook.

Some of Mr. Orbán’s political allies are also going against the prime minister. The 35 year old Bence Rétvári, Hungary’s State Secretary for Public Administration and Justice, told reporters that as a Catholic, he could not support the death penalty. In fact, he went a bit further. “Any practicing Christian politician cannot be in support of capital punishment,” said Mr. Rétvári, alluding to the prime minister, who has long built a public image of himself as a faithful Protestant. Mr. Rétvári also noted that reinstating the death penalty would serve as a  “clear break with Christian values.”

Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament, has requested a talk with Mr. Orbán, after he heard of the prime minister’s suggestion. Mr. Orbán’s entourage indicated in a press conference that the prime minister would be happy to chat with Mr. Schulz. Then his press secretary, Bertalan Havasi, added that Mr. Orbán seeks to launch “consultations” in the EU on the issue of the death penalty.

While Hungary only abandoned capital punishment in 1990, the number of people executed had dropped significantly by the early 1970’s, with an average of three people put to death each year.

Mr. Orbán has been at the forefront of Hungarian politics for the past 25 years and he has served as prime minister for nine years. As he scrambles for ways to stop his party bleeding away support to the “fresh,” youthful new far-right kids on the block, it is becoming clear that he has lost the spring in his step.

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