Hungary tries to lure émigré youth back home

While the Orbán government is busy erecting a 177 km barbed wire fence along the full length of the border with Serbia, in a thus far completely unsuccessful attempt at keeping refugees out, and sending a message to the Fidesz party’s base that the government is tough as nails with the migrants, it is also launching a program to lure Hungarian economic migrants living in London, Berlin, Frankfurt and elsewhere in the European Union back home. Much like is the case with the wildly ineffective barrier on the border, I suspect that the new program, rather ungracefully entitled “Come Home, Youth!” (Gyere haza, fiatal!”), serves primarily as a communications tool, in order to ease the concerns of tens of thousands of Hungarian parents who are seeing their children leave Hungary in droves, for better wages, more job opportunities and a friendlier socio-political climate in western Europe. Up until now, Fidesz appeared not to care very much, or seemed to largely dismiss concerns about the growing brain drain. Perhaps internal party polling showed that ordinary voters are, indeed, worried about the fact that over half a million young, educated Hungarians have left the country in recent years.

A recent public poll also showed that 37% of Hungarian university students were planning to leave the country upon graduation.

The Come Home, Youth! program, however, seems to be having moderate success, at most. As a sign that the Orbán government appears to be looking for the elusive silver lining, Szabolcs Pákozdni, the program’s director, cheerfully announced that thus far, employment has been secured for 21 (twenty-one) young Hungarians who had emigrated, but had returned to Hungary, thanks to these new opportunities. It speaks volumes, when the return of 21 Hungarians is cause to hold a press conference.

Even more telling is the fact that Minister of the National Economy, Mihály Varga, personally welcomed the first Hungarian to return to his homeland, Gábor Sie, on his first day at work. Mr. Sie was probably a little surprised by the media stunt.

Coming or going? Budapest's Liszt Ferenc International Airport.

Coming or going? Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport.

A total of 2,380 young Hungarians have registered with the program, and are waiting for organizers to find them employment, before committing to return to Hungary. Apparently, 172 of the applicants have been paired up with potential employers, and will soon begin the interview process.

Mr. Pákozdi also added, that some of the youth on the waiting list are happy to return to Hungary, even if they do not obtain gainful employment, as they plan to launch their own business. Hungarian authorities, as of late, have not been very friendly to private businesses not connected with the ruling political elite, but perhaps some young Hungarians are still optimistic. The program aims to provide these fledgling entrepreneurs with help as well, through 100 hours of e-training.

Thus far, the program has received a fairly modest 10.5 million forints in state funding.

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