An alleged case of vote-buying in Nyírség became a police matter at the weekend.
A HírTV reporter posing as Finance Minister János Veres’ campaign chief Viktor Tóth was on Friday told over the telephone by Nyírlugos village Roma authority leader Lajos Balogh that the Roma would not turn out for the March 9 referendum unless they receive payment. A second conversation also aired on HírTV Friday featured a Roma leader from Nyírmihályd asking the real Tóth if they can count on remuneration from the Socialist party in return for votes, and the campaign leader said they will discuss the matter at a later date.
Tóth filed a complaint at the police station later that day. He admitted that it was he on one of the recordings, but said he had not been called by Balogh but by Nyírbogát Fidesz mayor Miklós Simon’s campaign leader László Tejfel. Simon later said Tejfel is chairman of the local minority authority and had never been his campaign leader. Tejfel could not be reached for comment.
Veres said this was a case of provocation committed by his political opponents.
HírTV reported the case to the police, who launched an enquiry in Szabolcs county on suspicion of vote-buying. The reporter said HírTV was checking the substance of reports earlier sent to their editorial office that suggested the Socialist Party is offering remuneration for local Roma to stay at home on March 9.
Fidesz MP István Balsai said his party suspects vote-buying and expects the prosecutor’s office to provide clear answers, adding that “this confirms the suspicion that votes were bought in 2006, and that such a solution is not far from the Socialists.”
“provide clear answers” will hardly happened. No hard evidence seems to exist. Just not proven allegations and “dirty tricks”-campaigning.
The quesion is if HirTV will give out the original recordings, not any edited ones.
More details in English can be found at “http://esbalogh.typepad.com/hungarianspectrum/2008/02/bribe-for-gypsy.html”.
If that TV reporter gets in legal trouble but the bent pols he was “entrapping” don’t, I swear, I’m gonna go light myself on fire in front of the Justice Ministry, or at least write a really really angry post. Ugh!
Erik – If Eva’s description (see link above) is correct: “Viktor Tóth is obviously in a very noisy place; he also seems to be confused. He can’t figure out who this Józsi Tóth is and mutters something about discussing whatever is on Józsi’s mind later.”, then where is the proof?
Sofar it looks very much like just “Dirty Tricks” campaigning. And why should MSZP speak with known Fidesz-Romas, why not with Romas that are not associated with Fidesz?
I just mean that the focus has to stay on the dirtyness of politicians, rather than what the media does… basically the media should be totally free to “entrap” *any* public figure, in any way.
Yes Viking, because if Eva Balogh has proven two things, it’s that she’s objective and not beholden to cheerleading for the government every opportunity she receives.
I have no problem with that, the problem is who is a “public” figure – any Campaign Manager, any CEO, Viktor Orban’s faher who now owns the mine he was Party Secretary for during the Communist time or a PUB-owner that pays its staff black?
Should “media” have special priviligies or should the same rules apply for all, meaning can we all do some “Wallraffing”?