Interview with Hungarian President Novák about Orbán, Ukraine war and many more
Hungary’s most important issue is how it can survive as a strong and sovereign country “in this draughty part of the world”, President Katalin Novák said in an interview with news portal 24.hu.
The president is independent of the government, Novák said to 24.hu, adding that her job was not to explain the government’s decisions, but rather to represent Hungarians and Hungary.
“That is my job; that is what the Fundamental Law says,” Novák said. “What happens in Hungary, how we live here and what it is most people care about, in my opinion, are things that are worth talking about.”
Novák said that in her talks with her foreign partners, she had found that few had factual knowledge about what was happening in Hungary because “they don’t necessarily get factual information”.
She said she had not agreed with all of the government’s decisions during her time in office, adding that she would have welcomed if the ruling parties had ratified Sweden’s NATO accession.
It is the sovereign authority of parliament to make a decision in this matter, Novák said, adding she believed that it would be “timely”, which she had told both the foreign minister and the prime minister.
Novák said the prime minister had promised her that Hungary would not be the obstacle to Sweden joining NATO.
She also said that she had not had to “explain herself” abroad in connection with the government’s decisions, and had answered any questions she could. The president said she herself had asked questions and received answers, adding that she was on good terms with just about all of her European counterparts, and had also met several of Europe’s heads of government.
On another subject, she said Hungarian-Polish relations had not cooled, and were not in any worse shape than a year ago.
Novák also said that she did not consider it a responsibility as president to criticise either the government or the opposition. Asked if there could be a domestic political decision in the country about which she felt she had to express an opinion, Novák said: “Definitely.”
The president speaks on special occasions like a national holiday or a New Year’s address, but they can also speak outside of those, she said. Novák said that those who kept track of when she has spoken and what she has said could see what it was she considered important.
Novák said one of the president’s most important — “and perhaps most difficult” — constitutional functions was promoting the unity of the nation.
“There are countless things along which we can divide ourselves, but there are values and situations that bring the community together rather than divide it,” the president said.
Asked how independent she considered herself from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Novák said she felt exactly as independent as the president needed to be from the prime minister. She said she had said no to the prime minister in several matters. Asked if she would seek the opinion of left-wing prime minister as often as she did Orbán’s, Novák said this also depended on the people in question, adding that she would definitely strive for regular contact.
Asked about her and the prime minister’s differing views on the war in Ukraine, Novák said there was a difference in how nuanced their positions were.
“The prime minister and I agree on the essential issues,” she said. “My position is perhaps less nuanced than his, I accept that.”
Meanwhile, she said granting a pardon to György Budaházy, a radical activist convicted on terrorist charges, had been one of her most difficult decisions.
“In general, the clemency power is the most difficult power for president,” she said. “There is no pardon that is not divisive, this is the nature of the matter.”
She said she believed Budaházy was not innocent or a hero, but an individual who had been sentenced for a crime. The president said she respected the court’s ruling and that her decision had not been a political one. As we wrote before, the Opposition said, Hungarian President should not pardon terrorists, details HERE.
Also we wrote week ago, President Novák’s Facebook post about the Szeklers outraged Romania, details HERE.
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3 Comments
Embrace DEMOCRACY – answer to Madam President, the “survival of a strong sovereign country.”
Madam President, the lingerie no doubt of choice, worn, of her favoured colour, the colour RED, does speak often with a “Forked Tongue.”
Madam President put up by Orban, she has exhibited throughout her Political Life, and days, she Practiced Law, as being a FANATICAL supporter of Orban – the Fidesz Party, which she is part of its “inner sanctum.”
Madam President, orally presents words, in her speeches, in interviews, that give an inkling, that the PATH – the position, we Hungary as a country occupy, the FUTURE of Hungary – giving indication – she has a questioning part of her persona or conscience, that EXAMINES the Future of the GRAVE un-certainty -that is Hungary.
Madam President would she ever criticize Orban ?
Answer: NEVER.
The Philosophy’s and Political ideas – the CREED – the dogma of Orban are part of Madam Presidents DNA -which in circulation – the use of DNA testing – the colour RED – DOMINATES.
Indeed there are people in HDN comment section, that looks like rabid dogs with foaming mouth, pouring his rage in the section, writing nonsense and useless statements, also with offenses, all due to policies that they don’t agree attacking anyone who don’t share his twisted vision, like “Apprehensiveness” and some others self declared “pundits”.
I wonder if they act the same way in real life, like they do here.
The level of the comment section here is very bad often.
There is no need to read all the bull…t they wrote, nothing usefull there, at least the government’s voters know what kind of people they are dealing with.
Fabian – Majority of contributors, in my opinion, write with a clear open visionary mind and tone in there contributions.
They over-all take a “balance” certainly not a “middle of the road” position, in writing there commentaries, that from the Political Party – side of Politics they support, in the process of there vote, they over-all communicate there opinions, not by “attacking” nor defaming – using a style in writing, that character assassinates individuals in relation to the articles – the subject matter.
Democracy is Dialogue.
Democracy PERMITS openness, directness – inviting opinions personal and “other.”
“Play the Ball and NOT the Man” – but “perfection is but for the few” – and rules, ethical & moral standards – do get -at times, sadly abused.