The Economist: Meet the man who can overthrow Orbán’s decade-long rule
The Economist published a long portrait of the Mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, as the man who could oust Viktor Orbán from power. Viktor Orbán has been the Prime Minister of Hungary since 2010, and many of the current opposition coalition believe that only the mayor has a chance to overthrow him – if he announces that he will run in the 2022 election.
Since reading the full article is subject to subscription, we bring you the summary of 444.
At the beginning of the article, they go through the most basic differences: Orbán relies primarily on the countryside, keeps his party under total control, and builds a stadium in his hometown. Karácsony, on the other hand, leads the capital, came to power as a result of a six-party collaboration, and campaigned against the athletics stadium.
The mayor added to this that “he is short and fat, I am tall and slim”.
Since then, Gergely Karácsony apologized for commenting on Viktor Orbán’s physique, he writes in his Facebook post that it was a bad joke. “I know we shouldn’t joke around with this, it can’t be part of the political debate, everyone deserves basic respect. I’m sorry that it may seem like I don’t know that right now, even though I know it very much, and I stick to that.”
Photo: www.facebook.com/Karácsony Gergely
Back to the article by The Economist. According to their summary, Karácsony became the common candidate for the opposition in the municipal elections because he was able to unite people with different views. They present the current coalition of opposition parties and call Karácsony a popular candidate who has not yet announced his run in the pre-election.
They add that his gentle nature seems more of a weakness in the eyes of many voters.
According to the Economist, Karácsony is a less confrontational figure compared to the right-wing leader of Jobbik Péter Jakab. The question is how much it can be sold outside of Budapest, where the majority of people are informed by pro-government media.
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Even if the opposition wins next year’s elections, it will be difficult to consolidate afterwards. In connection with this, Karácsony quoted Ralf Dahrendorf’s saying that it takes six months for the constitution, six years for building a market economy, and 60 years for changing a society.
The paper describes the Hungarian electoral system as free but unfair. Regardless of this, the new establishment of universities could leave power in the hands of Fidesz even after an election fall.
Full article HERE.
Source: www.444.hu
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6 Comments
Wishful thinking…Not going to happen. Take a moment and ask why Fidesz and Orban keep winning re-election…Could it be that most Hungarians outside Budapest reject the failed policies of socialism aka communism and their marxist policies? Hungharians are not buying what Budapest mayor Karacsony is peddling.
He is a nice young man, the emphasis being on young.
He needs a lot more experience.
Perhaps in eight years from now.
He is still at a development stage.
Lots of mistakes big and small.
At this stage it is HARDLY POSSIBLE.
He is – and his policies are – COVERTLY COMMUNIST.
COMMUNIST, SOCIALIST, THEY ARE ALL THE SAME – very dangerous beliefs.
I fail to understand why ANYONE wants to go BACK and imitate FAILED REGIMES.
Scaremongering tactics of ill fated propaganda being expressed by previous commentators.
Gergely Karacsony, born in the “darkened” years of communistic rules and laws dominating the political environment and landscape in Hungary, witnessing the failings of communism, it’s inability to allow and permit freedom of people them having a voice and opinion, for the future.
Gergely Karacsony does not lack a “hardened” backside nor “spleen” to put his hand up and challenge the present Prime Minister / Fidesz and run an agenda that is visionary for the future of Hungary.
Support of the right credentialed people is his need, that consists of younger generational Hungarians not lost, in the still dominant “scared” deeply political landscape of Hungary, those “darkened” decades of Russian bastardization, under communistic rules and laws.
Gergely Karacsony could be a J.F.K type elevated individual who in 1961, just 44 years of age became the 35th elected President of the United States of America.
Was he Politically “green” – not seasoned to be elected a President?
Intellectually Gergely Karacsony like Kennedy lacks no ability to understand, play the games needed to succeed in the “bull ring” that is Politics.
Gergely Karacsony has “mass” cultural indifferences to eradicate out of the Hungarian voters, saturating ides and philosophies of the changing Hungary, moving it into the 21st century and beyond, drowning out the “vileness” and wrongs of leftist style politics, that still “infest” strongly the politics of Hungary.
The youth vote , push their futures in Hungary what they can do for there country and there country for them.
Creativity policies to the youth.
Superannuation the vastness of personal benefits to them, and as a country when citizens reach the age of retirement.
Introduce into the Hungarian workforce structure on a “tiered” structure arrangement, over (4) four years – 2% first year 2%second year 2% third year then 4% in the fourth year.
Employers if it was introduced can’t and should not be subjected to a contribution to employees of a flat 9%. annually on there gross salary.
Superannuation – look at Canada and Australia, what it continues, even in these challenging novel coronavirus times, what the “humongous” benefits to employees there futures after retirement it holds for them.
Gergely Karacsony, if he saw the benefits of superannuation to the employed and future of Hungary would be foolish or remiss in his visions for the future of Hungary not to have a study undertaken of superannuation in Australia and Canada.
My recommendation would be Australia as it is less taxational complexed than Canada.
Camelot – the story of a mythical world, ruled by King Arthur, where goodness reigned supreme and Gergely Karacsony – you have an opportunity to create and change Hungary but you must have the right mix of team supporting you that carry NO past darkened luggage and that they see the future of Hungary clearly moving on away from those dominated leftist times of rule that must be buried.
“THE ECONOMIST” – a magazine best perused whilst one is ‘on the toilet’ – obviously has NO IDEA WHATSOEVER as to how Hungary’s Prime Minister is chosen.
According to the Hungarian Constitution, Hungary’s President NOMINATES the leader of whichever political party / ‘joint parties’ has a majority in Hungary’s National Assembly as Prime Minister – and he / she is then ELECTED by the National Assembly to that position.
So for Gregory Christmas (that is what Gergely Karácsony’s name actually means in English) to receive such a gift from Santa next year, the “sausage coalition” – comprised of the most unlikely group of ‘allies’ since the Tower of Babel was partially constructed – must win BY A MAJORITY at the 2022 Hungarian General Election.
Mr. Christmas has a smile which would warm the heart of many Hungarian grandmothers BUT – if he stands for ‘nomination’ to be the “sausage coalition’s” Prime Ministerial candidate – he would be supported by not only confirmed SOCIALISTS but also a far-right party (JOBBIK) which has a very strong anti-semitic leadership / membership.
It is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that Hungarian grandmothers – yet alone other voters – will want Mr. Christmas as their next Prime Minister.
It is even LESS LIKELY that the “sausage coalition” will garner enough support to prevent members of individual constituent parties from ‘losing their National Assembly seats’ – yet alone defeating the FIDESZ – KDNP ruling coalition.
Perhaps “THE ECONOMIST” should just stick to publishing articles about the rising cost of toilet paper world-wide.
Mind you, there is no reason why such a magazine couldn’t be used to wipe ones “derrière”, is there ?
“THE ECONOMIST” – a magazine best perused whilst one is ‘on the toilet” Yeh, totally correct…