Tusk calls Orbán a Nazi, Sikorski calls him a loser – gloves are off

Oh boy!  This kind of mano-a-mano fistfight is rarely seen even in the murky and often tumultuous politics of Central Europe.

Donald Tusk ex-Prime Minister of Poland is the current Chairman of European People’s Party (EPP). Tusk in an interview to Der Spiegel called Orbán the follower of Nazi philosopher, Carl Schmitt.   He said “We have seen many times in history that politicians use laws to extend their power. This may be familiar in Germany. I am sure Carl Schmitt would be very proud of Viktor Orbán.”   Essentially, he called Orbán a Nazi.

In response three Orbán allies, all members of the Hungarian European People’s Party (EPP) delegation wrote an angry letter to Tusk.  Hungary’s government controlled media also started to attack Tusk by pointing out his family’s “Nazi connections.”  Tusk’s grandfather served in the Wehrmacht, and pro-Orbán papers are claiming that it is Tusk’s family who has a Nazi past.

In response to the accusations Mr. Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s ex-foreign minister and a Member of the European Parliament penned an angry letter and called Orbán a loser.

We publish both letters without any further comments.  Enjoy.

György Lázár

Here is the letter from the Hungarian members of the European People’s Party (EPP) delegation to Chairman Tusk.

Viktor Orbán and Donald Tusk (right) – tense relations.

Mr. President,

We are living in extremely difficult times. People across the world are working relentlessly to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and to save human lives. Despite these times of difficulty and fear, however, some statements simply cannot go unanswered.

We have learned with astonishment that in a recent Spiegel interview you basically called the Hungarian Prime Minister a Nazi. We hereby express our profound indignation and categorically reject your statement. Viktor Orbán has never said or done anything to deserve such parallels.

Political disagreements are a normal phenomenon in any democracy. However, calling a political opponent a Nazi without any justification has so far only been a well-known tool of the Left against conservative politicians and parties. It is all the more disappointing to see the leader of a Christian-democratic party do the same.

Calling someone a Nazi without justification is also a disgrace towards the millions of people – Jews and others – who suffered under Nazi terror. It is an insult towards the memory of the victims and their living successors. It is cynical and morally unacceptable.

However extraordinary these times may be, political leaders must remain worthy of the office they hold. We believe these comments go way too far and should be rectified.

 Sincerely,

Tamás Deutsch, MEP Head of the Hungarian EPP Delegation Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union, Hungary, EPP Group

György Hölvényi, MEP International Director of the Christian-Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) Hungary, EPP Group

Balázs Hidvéghi,  MEP Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union Hungary EPP Group

 

MEP Radosław Sikorski’s response

Mr. Radoslaw Sikorski (left) with Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi in Budapest in 2013.

Dear Mr Deutsch,

Wow, so the Tusk quote does not refer to Nazism after all. Carl Schmitt was a pioneer of the politics of polarization, but to point that out is a far cry from calling someone a Nazi. Populists in Poland and Hungary indeed use divisiveness as a cynical political ploy, but I don’t think it is at all offensive to point that out. I suppose we’ll have to agree to disagree but I am concerned that you are trying to impose on Mr. Tusk the kind of political correctness that we both find tiresome when performed by the Left.

What I do find offensive is that the pro-government press in Hungary have used the tragic story of Donald Tusk’s family in Gdańsk during the Second World War to try to embarrass a great patriot and European. Do you really want to remind us on which side Hungary fought in the Second World War? Should we ask on which side the grandfathers of the leaders of Fidesz fought on? Your own grandfathers?

Mr. Tamás Deutsch at a Jewish commemoration in Budapest.

Instead of writing misleading letters to members of the EPP Group, you would do a bigger favor to the reputation of Hungary and of Fidesz if your government stopped using the pandemic for political agendas that have nothing to do with protecting the population. Closing international universities, subjugating public and private media, running hate campaigns against foreigners and the EU and sucking up to Vladimir Putin is not my idea of modern conservatism. And that is why – rather than misunderstood words by Donald Tusk – we are parting ways. Those of us who have for decades counted themselves as friends of Hungary are astonished and saddened, but it is your choice.

Good luck in the company of EU-hating nationalists. I hope that you are again backing the losing side.

Yours very disappointed,

The Hon. Radosław Sikorski M.E.P.

Chairman of the EU-USA Delegation @EUparliament

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