Hungarian Crisis

[paloc]

Dear democracy-loving readers!

Please just read this. Thank you.

50 years ago our country was fighting for freedom against the communists, but the soviet tanks buried our chance for democracy. Since 1989 we've been building a new political system. It was not the best, but we had no big problems. until now.

F. Gyurcsany, our PM was re-elected this spring, but after that he had a closed-door party meeting, in which he said (the tape was released to the public by an unknown person, in september):

"There is not much choice. There is not, because we screwed up. Not a little, a lot. No European country has done something as boneheaded as we have. Evidently, we lied throughout the last year-and-a-half, two years. It was totally clear that what we are saying is not true. You cannot quote any significant government measure we can be proud of, other than at the end we managed to bring the government back from the brink. Nothing. If we have to give account to the country about what we did for four years, then what do we say?"

OK, we know that most of the politicians are liars. but it is not just a simple lie. He and his party nearly ruined the economy, and now they are putting heavy weights on the citizens, which are closing the chances of the poor people. He lied to win the elctions, with visions of a better and easier life . The healthcare, the education, the taxes, etc... simply everything will cost much more than nowadays. And the worst part of it is that Gyurcsany is speaking so sarcastic. He is the 50th richest hungarian. He is calling himself a social-democratist, while he's ruining our shrinking belief in democracy.

A thing about tthe economy:at a projected 10.1%, the current deficit is the highest in the European Union.

There were some riots, yes. There were some radicals on the street, yes. But they are less than 1% of the population (thank goodness) But most of the population are upset, and many are demonstrating peacefully in the squares of Budapest and other hungarian cities, and there were small protests in NYC(USA), Bern(CH), Vienna(A), Toronto(CAN) etc.

The main oppositon party cancelled its rally to cause no trouble, and they told many times to protest but only in a peaceful way. Meanwhile Mr. Gyurcsany visited A. Merkel in Germany and he told that the german chancellor called him "brave". After that the germans said that this is not true(!)

We had municipal elections last sunday. The opposition won 18 of 19 counties, in one county it is a tie. 2/3 of the main cities now have oppositon-party mayors. After these results he called for a confident vote. But it is just a play. There is not much hope that his party will come up with a new PM. by the way, the confident voting is not going to be a secret vote(!)

In Hungary the president has less power than the PM. Our president is rather neutral in political issues. But a few days ago Mr Solyom issued a call to remove the PM.

You may suggest that I want the oppositon party to rule. It's not true. Our country elected the current government in a democratic way. I also know that these hard reforms are needed. But! This man has betrayed democracy, Hungary and his own voters. There must be a wise and genuine man in the government who can communicate with the people, who can put the economy "back on track". But it's definetly not Mr Gyurcsany.

Americans! You also had a president who lied about important issues, don't you?

[Bill Sikes]

paloc wrote: Dear democracy-loving readers!


What is the point of this post? Please explain.

[paloc]

I want some people to have an inner view of the things happening in my country nowadays. democracy is not just a word. I don't want to use it every sentence. By writing "Dear democracy-loving readers!" I wanted you to know that I am waiting for your responses, whenever they are the same or different of mine. Things are not going in the right way here. You are lucky to live in a country like the USA or other western countries. I saw that this part of the forum is about problems around the world. And now I don't just see those in the news, those are happening to me. Yes, I admit some of my emotions can be found in my first post. I am sorry for that. But you must admit that it is an interesting situation. So the first post is about telling the things the way I see them.

[Bill Sikes]

paloc wrote: So the first post is about telling the things the way I see them.


I'm certainly *not* trying to upset you, and yes, I agree that this "forum" does

discuss worldwide perspectives.... I'm just a little simple, and baulked at a post

with no obvious intent or question.... maybe it's the booze (again). So Hungary

is part of the "EU"! Well! I feel like Rip van Winkle.

[koan]

Americans! You also had a president who lied about important issues, don't you?


lol

That's a bit of a loaded question around here.

I must admit ignorance to the situation in Hungary. The quoted bit sounded positive to me. That the PM admits his party has done nothing good is a big step. Some leaders remain in denial. Perhaps there is more to the quote that implies he is happy they fooled everyone? It sounded to me like he was calling on the party to change that fact.

[koan]

Some analysts suggest the leak may be with the prime minister's permission as he posted a full transcript on his own web blog.

Mr Gyurcsany may be trying to emphasise the need for tough reforms, they say. Local elections are set for 1 October.

Mr Gyurcsany went on television on Sunday amid the row and said the "lies" he referred to were those politicians told citizens, who now believed they could have "happiness as a gift".

"We have to stop the deluge of lies which have covered the country for many years," he said.

from the BBC

That's how I read it too.