Who are the court adherents?

A reply to György Konrád by Károly Szerencsés

György Konrád has recently published an article in The New York Times. What could have been his purpose? Informing the American public of the current situation inHungary? Contributing to the overthrowing of the Hungarian government? Humiliating and disgracing the Hungarians?

Let us take a look at what he states in his short article.Hungaryis no longer a republic or a pluralistic democracy. The state has appropriated what it could. The country is run by court adherents – children of rural party cadres who fantasize about revenge. A part of the intelligentsia is neo-populist, neo-fascist and lives according to one slogan: “One people, one state, one leader”. The new Constitution is a crafty text which contains no guarantees of individual rights to freedom. The current régime is no different from the “quasi-fascist” Horthy’s and the communist Kádár’s – it is an autocracy. Konrád wants to live in a democracy, where individuals are protected by law and are not humiliated by their leaders, where there is freedom of speech.

This man makes me wonder. Why does he lie? Why does he cheat? Does he really think thatHungaryis a fascist country in 2012? An autocracy? Does he really think that the Fundamental Law (the name of the new Hungarian Constitution) has put an end to the Republic of Hungary? According to the new text: “Hungary’s form of government shall be that of a republic”. Does this truly mean that the pluralist democracy has disappeared – does this mean that now we have a one-party dictatorship? “No person’s activity shall be aimed at the forcible acquisition, exercise or exclusive possession of power” – states the Law. Furthermore, it grants the right to human dignity and freedom, it grants the freedom of speech, conscience, religion and thought, the freedom of the press, the right to assembly and the right to establish and join organizations. “The right to freedom of association shall allow the free establishment and operation of political parties.” And: “Every adult Hungarian citizen shall have the right to be a voter as well as a candidate in the elections...”.

Mr. Konrád, you have given your version of the demonstration in front of the Opera House. Here a group of Hungarians – surely to your liking – exercised their rights to assembly and expressed their opinion. The public service media has given full coverage of the event along with, dozens of commercial channels, radio stations and newspapers. This aggressive minority, – with you among them – according to which the Hungarian government should resign, denounces the creators and supporters of the Fundamental Law Nazis and fascists. The Fundamental Law was approved by the Hungarian parliament by a majority well beyond the required two-thirds. The parliament was elected by the Hungarian people. Are you aware of what you are saying? The government relies on the parliament, the parliament relies on democratic elections. You want to “correct” the results of the elections! Just like the communist Mátyás Rákosi did in 1947!

Sir! You say you are a devotee of neither left nor right. Sure enough: you are an extreme leftist: you accept only one truth: yours. And if the people put things in the right place (sometimes it happens that politics based on falseness and propaganda is finally revealed) you accuse others of “fascism”. Who is humiliating whom? Who is disgracing whom? Who is sticking labels whom? You would make corrections to the will of the people, because you possess the only and absolute truth. Do you think democracy is when your party which has been ousted from the parliament dictates what to do? Or maybe the fragment parties which gained little over ten per cent of the votes?   Would that be a democracy?

Do not get me wrong: do make yourself heard. Give voice to your criticism. But do not question the essence of the democratic elections: the will of the people. It makes no sense to respond to your sensationalist remarks (calling Hungary a “junk country” etc.). This junk country is our Homeland. We live here. You left her in the framework of a despicable bargain, humiliated. You said: the country is led by court adherents. You should have thought twice. There were some court adherents here: Kádár, Gyurcsány, Demszky and their gangs. They have indeed bowed to foreign will, submissively clicking their heels in full approval. The majority of the conflicts of the present government derive from the fact that it refuses this servile role.  (You say: it is against the European Union to put one’s sovereignty ahead of one’s European affiliation.)

It is no use commenting on such primitive remarks either that there is a fight between “rural” and “urban” Hungarians. It is a poor argument that was already worn out during the Antall administration. You could not let it go. You have gone on saying that there is fascism in Hungary whenever it is not your group who dictates. National – neo-populist – neo-fascist. This is the order according to you. And this is where your aversion to the Hungarian nation is best revealed. Is this your nation at all? What a schizophrenic situation! What are you saying in your article? We Hungarians (“my countrymen”) “easily warm to the slogan, ‘One people, one state, one leader’.”. This is Hitler’s slogan. So, according to you, we chant Adolf Hitler’s slogan sitting around the dinner table, during processions and assemblies. Sir, I have never heard it! You hear it. Maybe something is wrong with your nerves. I do believe that you hear it and you wake up in the middle of the night streaming with perspiration.   

We are one people, furthermore, one nation. We live in many different states, torn apart, mainly against our will. Our leader is not a person, but a thought: survival, value creation, bringing the Hungarian globe to perfection.

The Fundamental Law ensures “fundamental rights to every person without any discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, gender, disability, language, religion, political or other views, national or social origin, financial, birth or other circumstances whatsoever.” I reject the accusation that we would be fascists or Nazis. These labels were spread by Rákosi (the Hungarians are not democrats) and were slyly advocated by Kádár as well. Two political slogans: 1947: The Hungarian Communist Party has won, not fascism!; 1958: There are only two possibilities: either socialism or … fascism. You seem to have landed in the same trap also, but believe me: this is a nation that has professed its love of democracy and freedom over and over again. It is patriotic and a democratic nation. You do not seem to understand this concept. The cause of the problem has never been the lack of desire for freedom inHungary, but that foreign economic and other interests have been thwarting our path. Right now you are the piteous auxiliary force of these interests.

Mr. Konrád, your article is very informative. There is not a single word of truth in it! Not a single sympathetic attribute, not even a hint of empathy. There is no mention of our real problems – our national debts, unemployment, the demographic situation and the crisis of our culture. You have put us into the junk category as if you were a stranger to your nation. Who are you following really? Whose choice of words? Whose court adherent are you? I can understand that you are sorry for Klubrádió. It was yours (“our radio station”). Few channels have been more biased than this one in the history of Hungarian radio broadcasting. There was a legal tender and Klubrádió simply lost in the bargain. It happens. It has happened before. I myself felt more sorry for Sztár Fm Radio and Pannon Radio before. I would feel more sorry if Klubrádió had lost for political reasons. You can believe that this was the case. It is your right to do so. But to cast doubt on the independence of the whole Hungarian media by referring to this particular case is self-delusive. It fits into your crafty thinking: things you disagree with can only be antidemocratic or fascist. This is a typical antidemocratic attitude. All democrats are anti-fascists but not all anti-fascists are democrats. Neither are you.    

Dr Habil. Károly Szerencsés

historian