2015-03-10

Hungary Stays Right

The next years will be about hardworking people, Viktor Orbán’s State of the Nation Address (27 February 2015, Budapest)

Orban begins by drawing a clear line between Hungary and much of Western Europe:
The Honourable Chair has mentioned wiseacre analysts who take the view that the concept of a civic Hungary (i.e. one based on Christian-democratic, conservative principles) is merely a political product, and that this has somewhat shaken the faith of the members of our political community. I understand the concerns, but I hope for more self-confidence from Reformed Church pastors, let alone ministers. For our flag is flying high; everyone can see that. Everyone can see that we are a people’s party community, based on Christian-democratic foundations – the ideal, guiding star of which is a civic Hungary. I do not think that this would change in the next hundred years. The Honourable Chair also mentioned that national and Christian-based governance is – if I am quoting him correctly – not a political issue but a personal affair. It bears no relation to position, title, advantage or power. It is good to remind ourselves of this when we are in government. This is a key issue. The key issue of our governance. We could, of course, always observe by way of introduction, that we are human, too. We are no saints, though we should aim for nothing less; this is something that members of the Reformed Church should also consider. We have our own interests, our affections, and of course, our biases. The work we do is far from perfect, even if that is what we should strive for. But notwithstanding our frailties and imperfections, there is one regard in which we cannot go wrong: neither individual ambitions, nor individual or group values may take precedence over the interests and service of the nation. This is more than mere respect for the law, stronger than the oath you take on the Fundamental Law. As the Honourable Chair said, this is a personal matter, a matter of integrity, and is, at the same time, the very political foundation of Christian-democratic politics. I should mention here a piece of political advice that should be important for all Christian-democratic politicians. “Do not concern yourselves with whether God is on our side, but concern yourselves with whether you are on God’s side.” I wish us all good luck in this!

He goes on to assess the problems facing Europe today:
Twenty-five years after the miracle of 1990, we can hear the sound of gunfire in the eastern half of Europe. In its southern part, harsh economic bailout packages are leading to increasing anarchy and opposition to the European Union, with the emergence of a range of alarming extremist parties. Terrorist organizations recruit fighters to join their ranks from among immigrants living in the continent’s western part, while the southern borders of the EU – including our own state’s borders – are besieged by waves of modern-day migration, in the face of which increasingly frustrated states and governments are at a loss. And this is happening in an economic environment in which millions of Western European citizens feel that they have to work ever more for less money, just to keep their jobs. Europe is facing questions which can no longer be answered within the framework of liberal multiculturalism. Can we shelter people, many of whom are unwilling to accept European culture, or who come here with the intent of destroying European culture? How did we lose and how can we regain the common European homeland to which every nation of the Union – including the Greeks and the Germans – can say “yes”? Can we prevent the return of the spirit of the Cold War, and the prospect of a Russia, excluded from Europe, as our enemy once again? And can we Hungarians stand up at one and the same time for the independence of Ukraine, the security of the Hungarians of Transcarpathia, Hungary’s energy security and its economic interests?

Related: Socialists: Orbán humiliated Hungary’s diplomats

Prior coverage of Hungary.
H/T: VoxDay

No comments:

Post a Comment