The Hungarian Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office deliberately thwarted efforts to give American soldiers’ US-made cars local licence plates to gain political leverage on the United States government, report claims.
American soldiers stationed in Hungary have not gotten licence plates since 2021
Photo: FB/US Embassy
In a recent speech at the Central European University, Budapest, the American Ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman, criticised the Fidesz government’s decision not to issue local licence plates to American soldiers serving at the Pápa Air Base in Hungary.
“[F]or more than three years,” Pressman said, “in violation of our Defense Cooperation Agreement, the Hungarian government has not allowed these young soldiers to get licence plates for their family cars, instead forcing them to pay tens of thousands of forints out of their pocket every month for temporary registrations. Not because of bureaucracy or red tape. Because the Hungarian government has made the political decision to do so.”
This issue, the Ambassador highlighted, is a symptom of a larger predicament, and is “indicative of the current, concerning state of Hungary’s relationship with its allies. The problem, he continued, is that Hungarian policymakers treat the United States as an adversary, “saying and doing things that undermine trust and friendship” between the two countries, while also isolating Hungary from its other allies.
PM’s Cabinet Office is the main political actor in the issue
Photo: facebook.com/vitezydavid
The trouble over the licence plates that Pressman protested, and his argument that there is an underlying conflict between the two states being exacerbated by the Hungarian government, seem to have been true, according to VSqaure.org.
The platform shares in a newsletter that a former official of the Orbán government confirmed the Ambassador’s allegations, saying:
“It’s true, this is a political decision to mess with American soldiers and try to get the US to ask us to resolve the issue, so we can also ask for something in return.”
According to their source, every step of the process of acquiring documentation for the soldiers’ American-made cars – which need special permission to drive on EU roads due to different traffic standards – had been successful. But then, the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office stepped in and halted proceedings in 2021.
The Cabinet Office is headed by Antal Rogán, who is often called the “Propaganda Minister” of the Fidesz government because of his central role in the “increasingly anti-US, pro-Russian Hungarian government propaganda machine, as well as the intelligence services,” as VSquare puts it.
Indeed, for example, under his rule, the Cabinet Office paid – an unknown amount of taxpayer money – to have ads shown on YouTube about the dangers of illegal migration all over Central Europe to push Fidesz’s anti-migration narratives to the forefront of politics in the region, and he was also a crucial player in the recent presidential clemency controversy.
Between 2015 and 2023, the National Communications Office, which is part of the ministry led by Rogán, spent a total of HUF 1,360 billion (EUR 3.40 billion) on communication and event planning, illustrating how important he and his office are for the politics of the Hungarian government.
Apparently, when the instruction came to halt the licence -issuing procedure for the Americans stationed in the country, the state secretary of Rogán emphasised that the instruction was a purely political decision that must not be overwritten.
As for the future of Hungarian-American relations, things do not seem to be on a path of normalisation. As we reported, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the US Ambassador a “left-wing political activist,” saying that when Pressman criticises Hungary for supposedly undermining trust within NATO, he should not forget how many Americans had been evacuated from Afghanistan by Hungarians.
Read also:
- Mfor: Orbán cabinet will squeeze foreign supermarket chains, Spar remains a target – HERE
- Hungary continues to strengthen its army, air force – READ HERE
Source: VSquare
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8 Comments
Antal Rogan – what a “complex” individual he is.
Interesting, is the “growing” list of additions being placed on his CV, that through him, his decisions, that have grossly been made to “favour” the Orban / Fidesz Government, that in his personal practice / conduct – that NO form nor evidence of any functionality nor alignment or attention – he has paid to Democracy.
In the decisions Antal Rogan has made, he has NEVER practiced that Dialogue is the Core of Democracy.
Antal Rogan is “drowned” in the DOGMA of the Fidesz Political Party that we know just focuses on, what’s best 1st for us – the Party and secondly – the Citizens.
Is there a resemblance that in his behavioural pattern, he carries a LARGE chip on his shoulders ?
Is he a stable individual ?
Antal Rogan – is into his 3rd attempt of marriage.
Is he a narcissistic individual ?
Antal Rogan, being identified as the Head of Propaganda, of the Orban / Fidesz Government, are there undeniable similarities to the “infamous” – Joseph Goebbels, the Propaganda Minister of the Third Reich, a known close confidant, of Adolf Hitler ?
It is KNOWN, that Antal Rogan is in the “inner sanctum” of the Orban / Fidesz Government, and a CLOSE confident of Victor Mihaly Orban.
Could – Antal Rogan be “in line” to replace the present Minister of Finance of the Orban / Fidesz Government – Mihaly Varga, who after (8) years as the Minister of Finance has PROVEN to have been a cataclysmic disaster that see’s our Economy, in TATTERS nearing a collapse ?
Interesting and COMPLEX character is Antal Rogan that as THINGS overall WORSEN just not in the Economy of Hungary, but the entire STRUCTURES of Hungary – what Antal Rogan will be WITNESSED – the role he plays
If US forces are not appreciated in Hungary it would be best to move them to places where they are appreciated such as Poland, Romania and the Baltics and those countries are more directly on the front line anyways. There is no need for the US to play these juvenile games with the Fidesz government.
His choice of venue for the speech says it all. Take a hike, Pressboy.
The US ended double taxation treaty that was started in 1979 was it, because of their ‘hate’ of Orban, and countless more stuff.
So let’s not cry about license plates shall we?
Want to be friends, then make it mutual.
Hungarian diplomacy at its best.
I think that if the U.S. military doesn’t want to stay within territory of Hungary, then let them go their merry way. I guess there won’t be any regrets on that matter.
Ho hum, another Pressman complaint. I am sure that the air in Hungary is bad for Pressman’s constitution, he should go home.
American soldiers, using American cars should have American license plates so that they can be easily identified. American soldiers’ stay in Hungary is temporary at the best, so no need for more red tape.
Any suggestion of Pressman’s next complaint, we can have a game. The person that identifies the next complaint should have the right to put 5 stars next to his/her name.
One thing Hungarians should keep in mind is the Biden Administration’s abandoning Israel and supporting hamas and hamas supporting Gaza population. Does Hungary need an ally that abandons support for votes?
Hungary should always support Israel and Hungarian Jewish population.
When traveling or moving to other countries it is best to rent or buy local vehicles. WHY on earth would someone spend money to have vehicles brougth such distance? The public transit in Hungary is very cheap, convenient and even goes to rural areas. What need do the soldiers need for the big huge American cars? Show off status? Then show it off with an American plate. They most likely get special privilages and protection anyway, so good for all public to witness any bad behavior easily. Don’t let them hide in plain sight.