Mixed-race, illiberal state, serving Moscow: Fidesz’s Tusványos kicks off tomorrow with another probably provocative Orbán-speech

A rich programme awaits participants of the “Tusványos” 34th Bálványos Summer Open University and Student Camp organised by the Budapest-based Pro Minoritate foundation for minorities and the Transylvanian Hungarian Youth Council, starting on Tuesday in the Transylvanian resort of Baile Tusnad (Tusnádfürdő).

In 2005, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán claimed that the leftist Gyurcsány government was serving Moscow’s interests. In 2014, he sparked international controversy by openly declaring Hungary to be an “illiberal state,” a term he used to describe a new political model focused on national interests over liberal democratic principles. Then, in 2022, Orbán stated that Hungarians were not a “mixed race” and expressed opposition to becoming one.

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Rich programme awaits participants of 34th Bálványos summer university

Podium discussions of the war in Ukraine and Israel-Iran conflict, as well as the Romanian elections, will get top billing. Further, the causes and consequences of the disaster in Prajd and its long-term effects on the region’s tourism will be among highlighted topics, Krisztina Sándor, the director of political programming, said in a statement

Meanwhile, an airing will be given to schemes for Hungarian communities that the state secretariat for national policy has launched recently, with a national policy roundtable held on Friday morning.

Besides political decision-makers, many leaders of Hungarian corporate life and the banking sector will also attend, and topics such as energy security and the economic and financial challenges caused by the war situation will be on the event’s agenda.