Orbán’s Oxford mentor disappointed in the Hungarian PM
Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, famously spent a few months studying at Oxford University. His then-mentor has now shared some memories.
Orbán’s mentor at Oxford, the Polish Professor Zbigniew Pełczyński, told Blikk that he considered the Hungarian PM an extremely talented student back in the day but was disappointed in him in recent years.
Pełczyński organised study programs at Oxford for Polish and Hungarian students in the early 1980s, and Orbán was one of the participants in 1989 when he received a $10,000 scholarship from the Soros Foundation to study at Oxford University. Although he is proud to announce this experience on his website, according to Index, he fails to mention the fact that he attended the training with a Soros Foundation scholarship.
His interview at the famous university was allegedly so successful that he was not only admitted to Pembroke College in Oxford but was also offered mentorship by the Polish professor.
According to his classmates, he was an easy-going, charismatic student with
a characteristic accent and the personality traits of a rock star.
Professor Pełczyński claims that Oxford did not really mean much to Orbán, it was merely a tool for him in his political career. At the very beginning of their acquaintance, the current prime minister stated that he would immediately head back to Hungary if elections would be announced. This is exactly what happened, so he ended up completing only one trimester at the prestigious university. According to Pełczyński, there was not much to evaluate during that short period, so Orbán left without any certificate.
Before suddenly leaving the university, Orbán met his mentor regularly, and the professor considered him a talented, bright student. When Fidesz won the election in 1998, he gladly accepted Orbán’s invitation to Hungary, and it was not until around 2010 that he expressed his disappointment in the illiberal turn of the Prime Minister.
Pełczyński claims he would feel embarrassed to meet his former student now.
Read alsoPM Orbán interview: “this virus will not just go away” – UPDATED
Source: Blikk, Index
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15 Comments
Don’t worry, Professor – you won’t be receiving any “all-expenses-paid-by-the-State” trip to Hungary !
Yes but the article lacks one basic point. Conveniently it leaves out -why- Orban’s teacher was disappointed in him.
Our great leader, the Orbán of the world has not disappointed his mentors. Putin and XI Jin are delighted with his progress. Modern Stalinism at its best. Corruption and an obscene obsession with completely necessary football stadia (at the expense of boring things like investment in hospitals) means that our Viktor is well on the away to craeating a North Korea in Europe.
Très drôle. If only it had been the real Alfred who had posted the above!
So, how is it that Alfred E. Neuman knows with such a precise certainty that both Putin & Xi Jin are “delighted” with Orbans “progress”? Has Mr Neuman spoken with either of those two nations & ascertained what happened or is it just easier to blame China & Russia, no matter. He appears to talk just like the ones he warns about. Is he one of them?
To PSEUDO “ALFRED E.NEUMAN” (and Moxie) :
I am neither of these individuals and would like to point out a very important aspect of the BIASED
comments above.
ORBAN HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE POSITION WHERE HE IS BY HIS PEOPLE AND HIS PEERS.
SIMPLE.
HE IS CHARISMATIC, BRILLIANT, A SEASONED POLITICIAN AND HAS ALWAYS DONE WHAT’S BEST FOR HIS COUNTRY.
HE IS THE STATESMAN THAT THIS COUNTRY DESPERATELY NEEDS.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO-ONE ON THE “other side” WHO EVEN REACHES HIS ANKLES.
It would be total insanity to consider anyone else at this stage.
PERIOD….
If his former professor has DIFFERENT POLITICAL IDEAS well that’s JUST TOO BAD isn’t it?
You guys are eating yourselves up over it.
Give it up, you are fighting a losing battle so save your energy for better things, like serving the community in a practical way.
For the record, pseudo “Alfred E. Neuman”, Hungarians are PASSIONATE about football.
In case you are NOT aware, FIDESZ has been pouring money into hospitals ALL OVER Hungary for several years now (unlike Ferenc Gyurcsany who cut back on health expenses – and pensions – during his time as Prime Minister !).
In response to the recent remark by “kender” , please be advised that some totally ignorant, left-wing, parasitic leech – who probably has an I.Q. less than a squashed cockroach – commented under the name of “Alfred E. Neuman” .
You will note that the correct name is “AlfredE.Neuman” (continuous letters).
There is NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER that many of the remarks recently submitted by “AlfredE.Neuman” have ‘hit the mark’ in Brussels and amongst their numerous paid minions (including “Mario”, “Anonymous” and “Haziorvos”).
As a result, the ‘pribéks’ (look it up in a Hungarian – English dictionary if you don’t know what it means !)
have been instructed to UNDERMINE “AlfredE.Neuman” in any way possible.
Rest assured “kender” (and others) that “AlfredE.Neuman” has not written anything which undermines the superb work undertaken by Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary NOR made any disparaging comments about him.
That underlying principle will continue with ALL comments submitted by “AlfredE.Neuman” to ‘Daily News Hungary’.
The left-wing neo-liberals / Marxists / Socialists / Communists / Stalinists in Brussels – and their “brown-tongue” followers – are obviously getting VERY desperate when it becomes necessary for them to sink into such cesspit-like behaviour.
Would it not be an embarrassment to list this “funded” semester at Oxford on your CV ///
Greater embarrassment is the funding of the Oxford – Pembroke College “short vacation” is the name Saros Foundation.
Is this a clear message often overlooked in the “gutter” rhetoric that continues to dominate the Hungarian Political landscape, that one should never forget their friends on the way up for what they receive BECAUSE you may need them when you FALL.
National Elections of May 2022 will witnessed great numbers of old scares and battles re-opened in the run up to the – IMPORTANCE – greater than post Second World War and the Fall of the Iron Curtain – that the citizens of Hungary are faced and challenged – what Future type of Hungary do they wish to live in and call their home.
What style of Government do they the citizens of Hungary – believe are their Future and generations to come.
Social Inequality – just one vital component of who leads us post May 2022, who has the PLAN – what Political Party – to substantially narrow this social widening gap – of the Rich get Richer and the Poor get Poorer.
Prime Minister – Victor Orban will be “bombarded” in the led up to the coming elections that at this present time is taking a somewhat “passive” approach to what no doubt is to come.
Mr. George Saros – his influence and interest in Hungary in the “gloaming” years of his life – the coming National Elections May 2022 – could see his “finest and influenceable” hours to convince Hungary through his Love of Hungary – the Future Political driven direction it should take.
We know the “shame and blame ” game and this will be in the “bombardment” that the present Prime Minister his Government and Party – will undoubtable face.
NORBERT is incorrect in his ramblings.
There is every opportunity to do well here in whatever field you happen to choose.
Where you are so mistaken is:
This is NOT A WELFARE STATE, this is a WORK-ORIENTED STATE.
THIS IS NOT A COUNTRY TO BE IN IF YOU WISH TO “SPONGE” ON THE HARD WORK OF OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
Those who are in NEED are helped until they get on their feet, then it is expected that they contribute.
It is a brilliant idea.
That is why it is so SUCCESSFUL.
Congratulations to Mr Orban FOR NOT “SELLING OUT” even as a young man.
SURELY YOU ARE NOT SUGGESTING – BECAUSE HE ACCEPTED A SCHOLARSHIP – THAT HE SHOULD SELL OUT HIS POLITICAL BELIEFS IN RETURN !!
I am sure there was no “contract” or such demands made at the time.
He was and is a brilliant intellect.
Your readers should follow this policy when hearing about “famous” people who are critical of Viktor Orban.
Has the person criticising Orban taken Soros money? If so, ignore what the person says.
In this case the Polish professor has worked with Soros for many year.
OBSERVER – it is highly recommended that people clean their semüveg on a regular basis. Especially rose tinted ones.
To “bruce”,
Most of those “famous” people are influenced by the NECESSITY TO SUPPORT THE LIFESTYLE THEY BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO or of SOME SORT OF BENEFIT TO THEMSELVES when they support certain lines of ideology.
I thought people can see through that.
I am not obliged to any kind of ideology or political belief.
It stems purely for the love for my country.
Can you understand that?
Outsiders shouldn’t meddle in the affairs of a country.
It should be decided by those who’s sweat and toil and sacrifices made it what it is.
People should respect that.
Orban did not have to sell out… he got the uneducated masses to buy in. Now a happy rich man who has never done an honest days work is diktator-in-chief supported by a pack of commies. Xi and Putin love their guy in Budapest. He serves them well as EU disrupter. As for smart, well he understands how best to manipulate the his people with nationalist jingoism.
LOVEHUNGARY – “not a welfare state this is a work orientated state.”
Blindly you live.
Are you saying that over the past (10) ten years under the present Government that Social Inequality – in the population of Hungary has narrowed ?
Social Inequality – the rich get rich and the poor get poorer has increased in the time that this present Government have been in Power.
Presently – it is at an accelerated pace not at all helped by the on-going presence of the novel coronavirus – the worst human tragedy of the past century, but Social Inequality is continuing to WIDEN in the population of Hungary, and that is FACT.
“Norbert” is such a FOOL !
This left-wing IDIOT obviously wants everyone to be ‘equal’ – like the “good old days under Communism”.
Get real, you twirp, there will NEVER be such a thing as ‘equality’ – no matter how much you and ‘pretend politicians’ of the Hungarian ‘sausage coalition’ complain.
In Hungary, there is PLENTY of work available for those who want it – and if they don’t, then the State will provide support for about 3 months (which is MORE than long enough to find employment).
Yes, Hungary is a “work-orientated state” – not a ‘welfare state’ to be used by layabouts like “Norbert” (who rambles on like a mad drunkard with dementia).