Opposition Fidesz aims at two-thirds majority

“lamentably negative” tendency
—
How should we interpret that, as
- regrettable,
- unfortunate,
- deplorable,
- pitiable.
If it is suppose to be understood as the two first, then he really emphasises that Fidesz has no responsibility what so ever to engage anti-Government critics in what is good politics and what is not.
So if during the Fidesz-controlled next Parliament the MunkasPart (the real communist party in Hungary) would raise to become an important political player with 10-15% in the opinion polls, we could all blame the Fidesz Government?
-
If Fidesz had put in the same effort that they have been using to destroy MDF the last 4 years, on instead engaging Jobbik in an open debate on what is right and wrong to do in politics, then the situation with Jobbik would have been different today. By not doing this Fidesz has given its silent support to Jobbik’s policies.

It is obvious from your comments that you support Bokros^David at MDF headquarters.
Strange how you never seem to criticize the current MSZP government?
After all,are they not responsible for our current misfortunes
GmBh at January 29, 2010 2:04 PM
—
I think/hope Bokross is another type of politician than the Orban/Gyurcsany-type. The latter 2 you either hate or love, they tend to divide people than to unite people from different camps.
I lived in Hungary during the Bokros-years 95-98 and they were hard but Hungary has lived on the house-cleaning he did at that time. The guys that came after him:
- Orban,
- Medgessy,
- Gyurcsany
continued the old Communist-policy from the 80s loan money to “improve people’s living conditions”. That is why we got the minimum wage under Orban and ever increasing promises every election of more gold and honey.
-
I have hardly ever seen a Government-positive post, so to criticize the Government would just be writing something someone else already written and what would be the point?
-
The Government is of course responsible for many things, but to blame Jobbik’s success on the Government is in my opinion not correct
Every democratic party has a responsibility to oppose anti-democratic ideas and tendencies. Fidesz takes very light on this responsibility, especially when they have had organised cooperation with Jobbik
I think though that Jobbik’s usefulness is finished for Fidesz and after the election it will be harder times for Jobbik/MG

If you support MDF why don’t you tell us more about them?
GmBh at January 29, 2010 9:53 PM
—-
I must admit that I had a problem with MDF, then they were in power in 1990-94 and that goes as one of the most corrupt time in Hungarian history.
As I understand most of the leadership from that time went to Fidesz later and the more obnoxious types, like Csurka Istvan open up their own shop.
MDF today is different and has struggled for over 10 years to survive from the big ‘charm-offensive’ from Fidesz
MDF has presented some different ideas, like:
* A cost of promises calculator:
http://www.politics.hu/20100127/small-conservative-party-mdf-calls-for-cost-of-promises-calculator
Given the traditional to ‘buy’ the electorate in the true spirit of Kadar this would be a ‘Good Thing’(tm), even if it is of course an election ploy, then no other party will follow suite.
-
* They are also the only party that claims that the current pension model is not sustainable and that the Swedish model would be better.
Fidesz was thinking of the Swedish model, but back-tracked immediately when they understood they could loose votes on this issue
-
This is the thing, to say uncomfortable truths even if it means losing some votes on it
We all know, by our and our neighbour’s wallets, that the economy will be important the next 2-3 years for Hungary, like this from MTI:
“Hungarians see joblessness as biggest problem”
-
The question is:
- Bokross fixed the economy 95-98, why not give him another chance?

@Olga: Right now the biggest threat to Fidesz is Fidesz’s past, or rather Orbán’s past: “The Serious Fraud Office charged that between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2008, Mensdorff-Pouilly had conspired with others to give or agree to give corrupt payments to agents of certain central and eastern European governments.” http://bit.ly/ajzvKk
Orbán was one of those and chose Gripen fighters in a last minute turn around against the advice of military experts. Oh and he could also make the mistake of trying to talk about policies etc… That has lost him the one horse races at the last post twice already.
@GmBh: I’m not here to entertain you or translate the news for you. You have said you have lived here for 3 years and already support a Fidesz-Jobbik pact so you explain to me what on earth you are voting for and why.

Olga,
“If there is a concrete point by point plan by Orban for Hungary’s future under his leadership, could someone post the link please”
Given government finances and private foreign currency debt, there’s little Orban can do that is different to the current MSZP regime. Public finance and services need massive structural change, and taxes need to be paid; Hungarians are not intereseted in hearing this, so Orban is wisely not going to tell them. An alternative point by point plan would just expose him to later charges of broken promises. The only point of interest is whether Orban is going to get the majority to rejig the constitution on its own, or whether he is going to have to co-opt/destroy Jobbik to get it. Until we get a constitution that enables the government to force through necessary but unpopular change not much can happen to domestic policy – look at the fate of the property tax, and Hungary’s destiny remains in the hands of the international organisations that currently finance it.

Dear Olga,
I also share Sophist’s concerns about the country having structural problems with it’s system of public finance, along with a dependency on international financing. This is hitting the nail on the head. It’s an awful situation to be in, because a political solution by any party becomes very difficult. To fix the mess would mean inflicting pain and that can backfire politically.
What has happened throughout the world in similiar situations is that unpopular changes regarding taxes and public finance are often forced by international lending agencies. The political party that happens to be in charge when the international lenders have become tired of financing the status quo, is usually the one “thrown under the bus”!

Everyone expects a big Fidesz victory because everyone had enough of thieving Communist MSZP, SZDSZ and MDF
Mark at January 31, 2010 8:17 AM
—
How does MDF end up on that list?
They have not been in Government since 1994, since then Fidesz was in Government 1998-2002, but they are not on the list.
Strange is the selection method of Mark
-
The rest of Mark’s post speak volumes of the problems Hungary will face if MDF does not come into the Parliament and we get at least a 4 party Parliament
And of course, Jobbik will not vote for anything that they will be able to be accused for in 2014
It is a very comfortable populist position, but totally irresponsible when Hungary need to take itself out of the financial crisis due too much public spending and not enough tax money coming in
Not that Jobbik will help out there, just sitting on the fence screaming something about Israel, while people have not enough money in their wallets
-
Ask your local Jobbik-rep if the Swedish model for Pensions would be a good thing for Hungary, or the Hungarian system is self-sustainable?
Do not hold your breath waiting for a comprehensive answer…

Hello Olga,
The resentment is also there when outsiders to a nation are seen as laying down the rules “in loco parentis”; that is when rules and austerity are imposed that our politicians could not bring themselves to impose. Being so deeply in hoc gives others that leverage. There is no substitute for home grown discipline as well as checks and balances.
Re: cloning. I need not be cloned, but if my ideas get around and help bring about constructive change, then I will have considered my time well spent.