Hungarian foreign minister expressed his serious concerns and frustration to 5 Nordic counterparts
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has sent letters to the foreign ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in connection with a letter to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe they wrote jointly.
Szijjártó posted a Hungarian-language version of his letter to his Facebook page late on Monday.
In it, the minister said
division within Europe would be the outcome were fake news spread about any particular country. Also multilateral institutions would be undermined, he added.
He said he was obliged to express his “serious concerns and frustration” because measures taken by the Hungarian government in response to the coronavirus epidemic were being misrepresented, forming the basis for “unfounded, politically motivated attacks”, which were ongoing in spite of assurances given regarding the relevant law that, he said, actually enhanced the powers of lawmakers to oversee the government rather than diminishing them.
Parliament, he added, maintained its functions of supervision and control.
Lawmakers can withdraw powers handed to the government at any time, he wrote.
Szijjártó said special measures were made only if necessary and proportionate, taking into account the trajectory of the epidemic and with a view to protecting the lives, health, safety and economic stability of Hungarian citizens. Steps taken under the law will only remain in place until the state of emergency is over, he added.
The minister said dialogue and cooperation were the basic tenets of the Council of Europe, adding that he remained ready to discuss any concerns in person. The Hungarian people, he said, were mature enough to make the right decisions about the future of their own country.
This ability should not be questioned, he added.
The foreign ministry will summon the ambassadors of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden on Monday, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said on Sunday, and cited spreading “fake news by the international liberal mainstream”. Read more HERE.
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Source: MTI
‘The liberal mainstream’ is by virtue of being mainstream, the democratically elected majority. in Europe, whther the Hungarian government likes it or not.
The so-called ‘liberal mainstream’ within Europe is in fact NOT ‘mainstream’ and it certainly does NOT reflect the DEMOCRATIC wishes of most European voters.
When was the last time that Chancellor Merkel or President Macron or – in fact – most other European ‘liberal’ leaders consulted voters in their respective countries about decisions made on behalf of those citizens ?
NEVER.
They sometimes made statements AFTER the fact but even that was an exception rather than the norm.
When did the bureaucrats in Brussels – and other UNELECTED individuals within the E.U. – who have taken it upon themselves to make important decisions ‘on behalf of’ European citizens, EVER ask voters about those decisions PRIOR to same being undertaken ?
NEVER.
They never thought it important enough – after all, why spoil the party ?
When was it that so-called ‘liberals’ (either leaders or parties) actually revealed their TRUE beliefs / intentions to European voters PRIOR to elections ?
NEVER.
They never had the guts.
The ‘liberal mainstream’ – if there actually is such an entity – has been manifested in the E.U. through a combination of obfuscation / misleading statements and outright lies.
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has been very POLITE in his dealings – to date – with various foreign ministers and other ‘liberal’ persons (including second-rate cable network interviewers) who feel it within their right to criticise Hungary and / or its Government.
However, the patience of Hungary and its citizens is NOT unlimited.
Unlike numerous other European sovereign nations, Hungary’s Government was elected DEMOCRATICALLY – with an enormous majority – to make decisions on behalf of Hungarians.
That has been the case for ten years – or three elections – to date.
Hungary does NOT want or need INTERFERENCE from so-called ‘liberals’ in decisions made by its Government, especially when that Government has regularly ‘consulted’ the Hungarian citizens via national questionnaires.
Until – or rather IF – such a time occurs that the so-called ‘liberal mainstream’ regularly consults Europeans so that it truly represents the DEMOCRATIC wishes of most Europeans, then these individuals CANNOT claim to be ‘the democratically elected majority.’
On the other hand, it is obvious that the Hungarian Government represents the majority in Hungary – whether the so-called ‘liberal mainstream’ (and Paulus) likes it or not.
Istvan, you are 100% correct.
Perhaps the Nordic nations are jealous of the social stability that Hungary has?
I am not Hungarian but I spend lots of time in this great country. I see a proud people who are not afraid to wave their flag. I see a proud people who celebrate 1000 years of history. A proud people who pay respect to their ancestors who gave fought invaders many times.
In the UK on 31 January (Brexit Day) as we waved our flags and sang our national anthem the national television reporters insulted the flag and the nation.
That would never happen in Hungary.