Liberal democracy “not exclusive paradigm”, says Christian Democrat lawmaker

(MTI) – Hungary’s government is again being attacked, a party official of the junior ruling Christian Democrats said on Thursday, this time for daring to suggest that liberal democracy is not an exclusive political paradigm and that Christian democracy has its own valid place.

Referring to recent reports by “liberal activist groups and their supporters” which contend that Hungary’s government has launched an attack against civil groups, Imre Vejkey, the party’s deputy leader, told a press conference: “These lack any reality”.

“Does anyone really think that presidents Obama or Clinton wake up and enquire about the Okotars Foundation?”, he said, referring to the US president’s recent speech on the protection of civil society, mentioning Hungary among countries which restrict civil society.

The foundation made headlines after police recently searched its headquarters in Budapest on suspicion of mismanagement of the Norway Fund.

Europe-wide, foundations close to investor Gyorgy Soros manage monies of the Norway Fund, and Clinton’s think tank Center for American Progress in 2011 and 2012 supported ex-premier Gordon Bajnai’s foundation, Vejkey said.

He argued for the value of Christian democracy and said that the government “strives to create a country which is just and competitive at the same time”.

Hungary’s government and PM Viktor Orban was widely criticised after the premier delivered a speech in Romania in July in which he slammed the model of the liberal western welfare state, arguing that Hungary, in this respect, would follow an “illiberal approach”.

Vejkey added that the European Union had had a heritage of Christian democracy but it had ended up denying it.

Radical nationalist Jobbik said Obama’s remarks came as an “open admission” of his country’s continuous interference in other countries’ internal affairs. Marton Gyongyosi, the party’s deputy group leader, said that in an effort to further expand its influence, the United States continuously interferes via “agent organisations” disguised as global, independent bodies operating as NGOs, and exerts pressure on other governments. The US thus violates the principle of national sovereignty, he said.

Gyongyosi said that fiery reactions in Hungary to the US president’s remarks reveal which parties and organisations stand most dedicated to representing American interests in Hungary, Gyongyosi said in a statement.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters