Liberal politician Gábor Fodor, the new Free Democrat (SZDSZ) chairman, was interviewed the previous week in a Sunday evening show on left-leaning tv station ATV, where you can also see the interview in question. Besides exploring his past as a punk musician, the interviewer also asked Fodor’s opinion about marijuana, to which Fodor replied that he tried weed during his teen years but abandoned it later just as he stopped smoking and now avoids drinking. He added that he would allow his children to smoke weed because forbidding it is counterproductive, and would instead openly talk about it as it’s the effective way to prevent addiction. Fodor also said that his once good relationship with Orbán that wasn’t so good for a while is now becoming normal again, but that people shouldn’t be concerned that he’s planning a coalition in secret. Following on last year’s suggestions to János Kóka that Kóka failed to heed, here are a few suggestions for Fodor, who hopefully will be a bit more receptive.
1. Come clean on what everyone already knows about János Kóka. The 344 people who voted for him to be party chairman are his entire national support. The sooner you jettison him, the better.
2. Work on erasing the image of the Free Dems as Hungary’s Jewish 5th Column. Of Hungary’s parliamentary parties, the Free Dems have the highest percentage of Jewish supporters, especially higher when compared with the Christian Democrats. Some kind of PR campaign to counter this image wouldn’t hurt, and not just in terms of votes.
3. Make clear that the real threat to Hungary is economic collapse, not fascism. Some misinformed people marching around in pressed uniforms, or economic collapse with pensions lost, yet another brain-drain, and no foreign investment? Which is worse?
4. Absolutely do not rejoin the coalition. The Socialist leadership won’t agree to Free Dem demands, so why help them? All you would be doing is applying duct-tape to a sinking ship, except it’s a ship that will take you down with itself. If the Free Dems are to see a jump in popularity, making as clear as possible the distinction between them and the Socialists is key.
5. Grow a beard. No party’s fortunes in modern Europe have been as tied to facial hair as the Free Democrats’ has. Gábor, lose the razor.
The lunatics have taken over the asylum.
“the Free Dems have the highest percentage of Jewish supporters, especially higher when compared with the Christian Democrats. Some kind of PR campaign to counter this image wouldn’t hurt, and not just in terms of votes.”
Since when it is reasonable to expect Jews to support the Christian Democrats?
What kind a PR campaign are you proposing, one that claims there are just as many Jews in the Christian democrats as there are in the SZDSZ?
How about a PR campaign which corrects the surprisingly widespread view that Jews represent a 5th Column and are in fact as loyal and patriotic Hungarians as Christian Democrats. Or if you want to go into attack mode, how about a PR campaign that suggests that Catholics might have their loyalties divided between Hungary and Pope.
Fascism will follow economic collapse, just as it did in the 20′s and 30′s, because outside of Germany, Central Europe seems to have learnt nothing from the 20th century. If fascism or at least anti-semitism is not a significant problem in Hungary, why on earth is your second recommendation to do with the public image of Jews. If economic collapse is so significant a problem why are none of your recommendations to do with economic policy?
Adrian, most of this was tongue-in-cheek, which is why it’s in the blog section, and why I specifically mentioned the Christian Democrats. Also, you can’t consider growing a beard to be a serious suggestion, especially if you read the article it links to.
However, to answer your question about what kind of PR move to undertake? You said it yourself: “a PR campaign which corrects the surprisingly widespread view that Jews represent a 5th Column and are in fact as loyal and patriotic Hungarians as Christian Democrats.”
Zoltan,
Thank god for that. I did think that might be the case: but decided given the climate in the anglophone blogs not to let it pass: too many Stans out there.
I have a beard, do you think there is a future for me in liberal politics?
Fodor has got longish hair, that’s almost as good as a beard in my book.
And Adrian please be careful, if you mention his name three times he appears in a puff of smoke spouting insane nonsense, hurling abuse and acting like everybodies least favorite bigot grandpa.
JoeBones,
yeah: well, I realise that my – what somebody else calls – blogcred has been severely damaged by this beard incident. In my defense, I would point out that your own sweet and reasonable voice cozing up to Stan’s rabid diatribe earlier today may have put me in over-zealous Nazi alert mode. In the distressing world of Hungarian Politics – one man’s hyperbolic irony is another’s common sense.
I really want to pile into Fodor as well. Now nobody will believe me!
Adrian, how bushy is your beard, and are you fluent in Hungarian?
Zoltan,
I was hoping the beard would be of global value, because my Hungarian just doesn’t cut it.
Adrian, I’m sorry that wires got crossed. I was only trying to build a bridge between the two sides. However I have now seen more of his rants and realise how mistaken I was. See the other ongoing comment board for my latest response to the nemesis of rational thought. Enjoy mi amigo
What I cannot undestand vis-a-vis the Jewish support for SzDSz is, what’s in it for the Jews? And is there some sort of mixing of religious ceremonies with meeting at the used car lot when holding a political caucus?
Other one I cannot understand is where do the Scientologists come in? Or is that MSzP?
Max Headroom,
I shall ignore the racist assumptions behind your question “what’s in it for the Jews”
Firstly, the are Jewish Hungarians across the political spectrum in Hungary, including Fidesz.
Secondly, the SZDSZ used to be a party of Intellectuals, traditionally in Hungary Jews are over-represented in the intellectual community.
Thirdly, The SZDSZ supports religious and racial tolerance, this is important for a religious minority.
Fourthly, the SZDSZ support the development free market, nobody is going to deny that Jews are over-represented in trade and finance either.
Now, what is this stuff about scientology?