Viktor Szigetvári’s exit interview

After more than a decade and a half in Hungarian politics, Viktor Szigetvári is leaving the political arena and potentially even Hungary. He gave a self-reflective, candid and elegant interview on ATV in the days after the election. It was devoid of any political spin. Mr. Szigetvári launched his career not as a front-line politician, but as a political strategist. His own political convictions straddle the line between liberalism and conservatism. (His university thesis supervisor was none other than Fidesz politician Tibor Navracsics, who is currently European Commissioner for Education, Culture and Youth.) Mr. Szigetvári served as adviser to Prime Ministers Péter Medgyessy and he managed the successful Socialist reelection campaign of 2006–the first time since 1990 that a governing political party was elected to a second consecutive term in office. Between 2009 and 2010, he was Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai’s chief of staff and he remained connected to a foundation spearheaded by the former prime minister beyond 2010, also engineering Mr. Bajnai’s return to politics and his run in the 2014 elections. This and the party formed for this purpose and now likely to fold, Együtt, were not successful initiatives.

Mr. Szigetvári did what many others are doing after the 2018 elections, which landed Fidesz a two thirds parliamentary majority, even while a majority of Hungarians voted for a handful of opposition parties. He asked himself the question: Do I have the energy and desire to continue the political fight for another four years, until the 2022 elections? He decided that it was time for him to close this chapter in his life.

“There was no demand for that in which we believed–namely a decent, liberal democratic program which does not engage in hate and anti-migrant rhetoric and does not offer simplistic, one byte messaging. We made many mistakes…I always look for who is responsible in myself.  There was no market for that which I offered and that which I promoted as a politician…I have to assume responsibility for this” said Mr. Szigetvári in his interview on ATV’s Start morning show. He noted that after sixteen years in Hungarian politics, it was evident to him that he needed to move on.

In his interview, Mr. Szigetvári refused to blame any of the other opposition politicians and parties, despite repeated questions from the reporter about whether others must share responsibility too.

“Obviously, every opposition party must examine their own responsibility. But if the politics in which I believe, and which I can explain either convincingly or unconvincingly, in a smart way or in a clumsy manner in television studios is not in demand, then personally, after sixteen years, I must bring my political activities to an end,” said Mr. Szigetvári.

Viktor Szigetvári in his last ATV interview.

He alluded to the fact that in the past he has worked in the private sector and abroad, so he is not worried about his own personal future.

“Despite this, there is such a sadness in me, because this is not the Hungary in which I believe…I don’t consider myself naive when it comes to the migrant question, but I will never engage in the type of anti-migrant hate that we are seeing. After all this, I have too little fortitude left in me to continue pedalling this bicycle for another four years,” Mr. Szigetvári explained.

In terms of what he recommends to those opposition politicians who decide to continue in the world of Hungarian politics, he has this to say:

“I would caution them against taking a deep breath and then after a month returning to ATV studios as if nothing has happened, once again producing press releases on the umpteenth example of corruption by a Fidesz politician. Speaking now from the outside, I can say that if the opposition fires itself up with the belief that it can survive on this, they should know that it has already been proven that this is not possible.”

Mr. Szigetvári did note that effective and wide-reaching coordination, fielding a single candidate in all electoral districts, would have at least helped avoid a two-thirds majority. The Együtt politician participated in talks, spearheaded by Ákos Hadházy, that called for an electoral alliance with Jobbik purely for the purposes of defeating Fidesz and then forcing a proper, new election, possibly with a different electoral law, in a post-Orbán Hungary. As we know, this political project failed.

“When outside of Budapest, 70% to 80% of Hungarians vote for Fidesz or Jobbik, then maybe liberal politics is not what is needed. But in my case, I cannot represent anything else. I will never spread hate against gays and I will never speak of refugees as enemies. This is not how I was raised,” said Mr. Szigetvári.

Hearing Mr. Szigetvári’s honesty and straightforward talk was refreshing. Many who were active in opposition politics and the opposition media are now also mulling whether they can or should continue their work for another four years. Some have already decided to bow out. From the perspective of the media, I think of the demise of Magyar Nemzet and the Budapest Beacon days after the election. All of us in this field should reflect on whether or not continuing is a worthwhile effort or a good use of our time. There are so many exciting projects, issues, people and places out there in the world to explore. I hope that Mr. Szigetvári finds one that proves fulfilling.

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