Most readers know by now how Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has abused his two-thirds parliamentary majority since his Fidesz party was elected three years ago. He has replaced judges, interfered in the Central Bank and the media, and used his party to monopolize state institutions.
As if these examples were not enough to make the European Commission and the EU member states question Orbán’s democratic credentials, Hungary has now given the EU further cause for concern.
A recent video clip records an extraordinary conversation that took place between Orbán and the major of Budapest, István Tarlós. The occasion was the inauguration earlier this month of a fleet of new Mercedes buses for the Hungarian capital.
Orbán and Tarlós were chatting in a bus that was also packed with journalists, who recorded the dialogue. The conversation received some coverage in the Hungarian press but—so far—has raised no international outcry.
The bus started from Budapest’s Heroes’ Square, slowly making its way along Andrássy Avenue. As it approached the Opera House, the prime minister turned to the mayor and pointed out a palace—the Drechsler Palace, built in 1882 as the home of the Institute of Ballet and now classified as a national heritage site.
Orbán: Hey, István, do these houses still belong to the Ukrainians?
Tarlós: I didn’t even know that they were owned by Ukrainians.
Orbán: I read something about Ukrainians . . .
Tarlós: The Institute of Ballet belongs to the Portuguese.
Orbán: It belongs to a Portuguese individual, and I want it back.
Tarlós: Isn’t there some kind of law that you can’t get it back for twenty years . . . ?
Orbán: Why don’t we create another law? The city could propose it, and I’ll create one.
Tarlós: We need a law for it. A city ordinance is not enough.
Orbán: Initiate the enactment of such a law, and I’ll create one.
Tarlós: Fine with me.
Orbán: Just give me a proposal. I can’t figure it out for you.
Tarlós: Mr. Prime Minister, could we draft a couple of bills?
Orbán: Don’t be too greedy. We are talking about one. You should draft it!
Tarlós: Okay, we will draft one.
The conversation then moves on to how the city could force owners and tenants to refurbish old buildings.
What it shows is Orbán’s blatant disregard for the rule of law and for property rights. His comments about the Drechsler Palace in particular demonstrate his extraordinary confidence in his ability to overturn laws.
After changing hands several times over the past decade, the palace was purchased in 2007 by Aquapura, a Portuguese hotel chain. The Portuguese owners are now considering how to react to this attempt at a property grab by Orbán.
Surely now is the time for the EU to act against an expropriation that is undermining one of the EU’s key principles: the rule of law.
Both the EU institutions and national governments carry responsibility for what happens in the member states. The longer Orbán and his Fidesz party are allowed to get away with their abuse of power, the greater the possibility that like-minded politicians in the region will be tempted to go down the same path—because they know that they will get away with it.
The EU needs to take strong measures to stop that from happening.
Comments(15)
I would rather read another conversation -unfortunately kept secret and never recorded- which was between the former mayor of the VI district minesapolity and the first buyer, an Israeli investor and the shameful price which for one of the most beautiful heritages of the "Unesco sites protected" Andrassy Avenue's buildings, the BALLET INSTITUTE has been sold.
Hungarian journo, I'm sure you would "rather read another conversation" about the alleged corruption of the previous government of District VI, because you are unhappy to read about any wrongdoing done by the current national government. You are a partisan supporter of Fidesz, and want to deflect any criticism of it by pointing to the misdeeds of others. This article, however, is about something other than corruption; it's about the rule of law, which is continuously being flouted by Fidesz. You might want to say that corruption is worse than the destruction of the rule of law, but then you would be ignoring charges of corruption by Fidesz, both previously and currently. I'm sure you've heard of the tobacconist license scandal, which is a very blatant form of corruption, but there are many cases of government assets being given away by Fidesz for less than they were worth, and for Fidesz-affiliated companies being given government contracts without competition, for which they overcharge. Even in this article, the buses mentioned could be a case of corruption, since some people are wondering why there were 2 middlemen involved, and the price of the leases seems unusually high. Where is your outrage about that?
The journalist should conduct some research on what was the history of the building and for how long it was kept empty and in ruins after the Israeli investor purchased it secretly!!! and kicked out the ballet academy from its decades-long residence. How about putting the price in print of how much was it sold for? Do some research and respect the facts. So where was the respect of the law at that time???? Anti-Orban propaganda piece. No journalism. Shame!
Eric, Any criticism of Orbán is propaganda, or you're saying that Orbán is right to enact extraordinary laws that blatantly target a specific person or company if there is a chance that the property affected might have been involved in corruption at some point in the past? Besides, you're missing the point, which is that Orbán doesn't care about the rule of law. This is just the most recent, open example of his attitude. He knew he was being filmed by journalists, and wanted to make it clear to everyone that he is king, and has no checks or balances remaining against whatever action he chooses to take. If he wants to take back the building because of the corruption involved, why didn't he say that, and start proceedings against the perpetrators? If he is only interested in abating blight (which I would agree with), why doesn't he talk about such things in general terms, and in a way that shows that he is bound by law and by the opinions of others? Journalists are supposed to present a true, relevant story, not dig up the entire history of every aspect of a story, nor all allegations that may or may not have merit. Just because you don't like the point this journalist is trying to make doesn't mean that she is not practicing good journalism, or that what she writes is propoganda. What you and others have brought up are good points, and may make a good story, but are not really relevant to this story. If Orbán had made that consideration part of the rationale for his behaviour, then it would be part of the story. That's not what happened.
It's the politicians' attitude and not the actual status or history of this or that building that counts here. Yes, the building has had a rather rough history - but should problems like this be sorted out by the prime minister saying that "I'll create a law"? Ms Dempsey provides an accurate translation of that chat on the bus and adds her comments. Why would it be "no journalism"? She talks about "abuse of power" - and her remarks are damned spot on.
The two previous comments are right. Many of the building on Andrassy Ut were sold by corrupt local officials at below market prices for kick-backs from corrupt private entities. I wish we would have heard the same moral indignation then that we are hearing now in this silly article. The government should issue a compulsory purchase order and get back this historic building. Currently its being left rotting in central Budapest by the current "owners" who don't even spend the minimum to maintain it properly.
Well said, Rubin! However, we will never hear about it from "unbiased" Western journalists.
http://www.politics.hu/20130513/what-judy-dempsey-missed-on-her-bus-ride-with-viktor-orban/
Mr Tavares of Portugal dared to criticise His Dwarfness of Hungary, therefore Mr X of Portugal will lose his property in Budapest. Hungary is a dictatorship, where any law can be changed within 2 days, retroactively, if the whim of Mr Orban so desires.
Congratulations, Ms Dempsey. Your article was spot on. Among other problems with those who are almost blindly following their power-crazed leader, is their inability to accept that they were wrong. Unlike King Midas, everything VO touches turns to s--t. Putting aside for a moment the PR bus-stunt, I wonder whether Hungarian journo and Eric really think that the world-wide criticisms of Hungary are unfounded. Do they really think, for instance, that the courts should no longer have any real power? Do they really think . . . Oh! What's the use . . .! I don't think they think any longer.
Many thanks to all those who commented on my blog. The answers reveal two things about today's Hungary. One is that it is as polarized as ever. It is hard to see what will the society closer together. The second is how some commentators used the past to ignore my main point. Orban is running rough-shod over the rule of law. It is all very well blaming the former socialist government over the way it conducted privatization deals.. The corruption was well known. They were not, however, in power from 1990 right through until Fidesz was elected in 2010. Fidesz says it wants to get rid of all the past corruption and be more transparent in its decisions. The ride on the bus gives a very different impression. What a waste of a two-thirds majority.
Thanks for this further news on the way PM operates in violation of basic rights and values enshrined in the Treaty. It is time to go beyond the timid infringement procedures and invoke article 7 of the Treaty which would allow to deprive Hungary of their voting rights in the EU institutions.
I was surprised to see my own translation of the conversation between István Tarlós and Viktor Orbán without any link to Hungarian Spectrum. See http://hungarianspectrum.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/listening-to-viktor-orban-in-action/
I don't remember the Carnegie foundation writing about police brutality under the Socialists. I don't remember you writing about the beatings of Hungarian kids in Serbia, Slovakia and Romania, just because of their language. Seems that you really do want to crush us and destroy us. Sorry, it's not on. The old racist "subhuman" concept of Hungarians as "savage barbarian Asiatics" may well inform your views, but we'll carry on rebuilding our country, like it or not.
I am quite desperate to see the lame and meek reactions in Europe, everybody is over careful, nobody sees how Orban has a predecessor: Horty, the first fascist after WWI. He is terribly skilful abroad and brutal at home. But most distressing: there seems still a majority of Hungarians who support him and find democracy a "disturbing" institution. Who wants to learn about how fast democracy can be abolished in our midst - look at Hungary!
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