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Balint aus Ungarn

Political circumstances in Hungary

I’m trying to be as objective as possible, although I have a definite opinion about it. To have a good look at the theme, we have to overview the last 50 years’ history. After the fall of the revolution ’56, the new, communist government got a great amount of aid from the „friendly” states, also many credits were taken by our country, so the standard of living increased rapidly (otherwise they couldn’t have crashed the revolution). After the changes, people were dissatisfied of course, so turned to populist forces. The parties couldn’t realise the demagogic promises, so every 4 year, the other side came to power. Except the year 2006, when the left side realised them (hundreds of kilometres of highway, 33% increased salaries), causing a total financial collapse. After the won elections, the left-side PM, Gyurcsany had to make real thick restrictions, and had to admit the false promises (it was that funny speech with those very nasty words). The answer of the right-side was endless demonstrations and sometimes streetfight. During those restrictions the left side was totally destroyed and became the third power in Hungary, the liberal party vanished. Now the two main parties are both nationalist, populist. The left-side is more moderate, but they didn’t learn anything from their mistakes, and didn’t make real changes inside. If the right-side parties get the 67% of the votes (it is very likely), they plan to change the constitution, give the citizenship (and the right to vote) for those (mainly nationalist) Hungarians, who live in the neighbour countries, so that the right-side will be fixed into power for many, many decades…

Connection to the EU: Hungary signed all treatments immediately (also all parties), the main reason is that there are much better themes, where they can fight each other. It is also true for the citizens; they accept everything, what comes from the „West”.

The main problem, I think, is the social inequality. Poor people have absolutely no chance to rise up; rich people can afford everything with their money. The middle-class is very thin, and is getting even thinner. Some parts of the country have only Roma inhabitants, who are living under medieval circumstances or even lower. The crime here is unbearable. The second most popular party (radical) wants to fight against them also with weapons. These districts are very dangerous, even for Hungarians.

Most of Hungarian politicians were members of the communist party, many of them were also secret agents of the state (also many bishops). The main left-side party is officially an offspring of the communist one. That’s why people don’t have any trust in politics. But after all, people like to blame politics for all of their problems. There is also a joke about that:

„- Why do men have wives? - There are things, for what we just can’t blame the government”.

Also many people (fans of the opposition) didn’t take the vaccination against H1N1, because „it must be some evil creature of the left-side”. But instead, people never lose the sense of humour, I’d like to end my text with one of the best jokes:

„A car filled with politicians crashes. After a while a policeman comes and meets an old man, who just buried the bodies. He asks the old man:
- Did you bury them?! Were they really dead?
- Well, some of them were screaming and shouting that they are alive… but I just can’t believe them anymore….”