Hungarian foreign minister blames liberal mainstream for EU ‘failures’
Change language:
The European Union’s failure to handle the main challenges of recent times was due to the pervasive presence of the liberal mainstream, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in New York on Thursday.
Speaking at an event of the New York Young Republicans Club, Szijjártó said Europe was facing “a package of challenges consisting of three major parts”.
The EU’s strategy had failed in handling the war in Ukraine, illegal migration, and economic challenges, he said. “The major reason for failing to address any of these challenges is the liberal mainstream.”
The liberal mainstream was making “rational, thorough, respect-based debate” impossible, Szijjártó said. He said anyone in Europe suggesting that promoting peace in Ukraine would be better than weapon deliveries was branded a Russian spy, Putin’s friend or a Kremlin propagandist, he said.
“Or if you say that the only way foreigners can enter your country is the legal way. then you are [this] close to being a fascist.”
Szijjártó said the EU had manoeuvred itself into a crisis because the liberal mainstream was attempting “to construct an absolute hegemony of opinion”.
Liberal forces saw themselves as the only progressive and democratic ideology in politics, and branded those unwilling to align with liberal values autocratic and anti-democratic, he said.
At the same time, “the liberal mainstream is the most intolerant ideology that has been ruling over Europe” in the past decades, he said. “They do not tolerate any alternative opinions, they are not ready to respect the rights of non-liberals.”
Hungary’s government had been using the phrase “illiberal democracy” to signal that a political regime can remain a democracy as well as conservative, Christian, and patriotic, he said.
Patriotic, Christian Democrat parties are seen as populists as the liberal mainstream is “ruling NGOs and civil organisations”, he said.
While most governments in Europe are governing in coalition with a slim majority, they are easy to put under pressure, he said. “I am one of the very few in the European Union. who feels that I can say what I feel”, thanks to the stable political system in Hungary, he said.
Szijjártó said
Hungary’s media landscape was varied, and around half of the outlets were supportive of the government. According to current European standards, that is a “media dictatorship in Europe, because liberals do not have a 99.9 percent share.”
“Rational, thorough, respect-based debate” – like we do in our Parliament??? I would LOVE to hear the latest explanation of our Politicians regarding Rule by Decree.
The swooning over Mr. Trump I just cannot get over. Like Mr. Biden – he is OLD. Unlike Mr. Biden, stating he should be above the law, so he can stash secret government documents at his house (https://www.politifact.com/article/2023/jun/13/the-difference-in-donald-trump-and-hillary-clinton/), incite insurrections in the name of protecting democracy (like our Politicians, he never does anything wrong or something you should apologize for), more generally engaging in dubious business practices (“everybody does it!”), paying off porn stars and then there is the sexual abuse of women, covertly for his own benefit trying to influence foreign countries (the “perfect” Ukraine call).
Tell Me What Company You Keep, and I Will Tell You What You Are:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2020/04/04/company-keep/
There is no denying Mr. Trump is a skillful political operator who has a keen sense as to the sentiments of his base. However, let´s not hold him out to be some sort of saviour, because he is not (and especially not for Europe). Be careful what you wish for.
Lucky Hungary to have courageous politicians in these times of turmoil and corrupt radical-left propaganda. Congrats to the Magyars.
ik hoop, dat Donald Trump van de stemlijst word verwijderd in alle staten van Amerika nog nooit een mens gezien die zo slecht is voor Europa.
Norbert -95% of the western media has been trying to destroy Trump- more than half the US now support him after all the lies and trying destroy him- everything you said here are lies pushed over 9 years.
Moveing to prague11 years ago and watched English French – German media before I moved to here and knew little about the EU. It became clear Peter szijjarto was the most intelligent voice in the EU then and he still is. I do know the conflict in Ukraine would never have happened especially with Peter and Orbans help.