Vona to PM Orbán: You have turned from a fiery young democrat into a burn-out communist

Today’s debate of the Hungarian National Assembly went fiery when Gábor Vona asked PM Viktor Orbán to back Jobbik’s initiative for a European wage union but the Premier was yet again unable to “step out of his world of little obsessions”.

Starting his question with the request “Don’t make war but act!” Mr Vona asked the PM to support the Jobbik-launched European citizens’ initiative for a wage union. The president of the opposition party noted that the European Commission registered the wage union initiative; Brussels judged the concept to be legally and economically viable.

Mr Vona also mentioned that the wage union would integrate the principle of “equal wages for equal work” among the fundamental rights laid out in the EU Treaties to ensure a Union with more social solidarity and fairness.

Pointing out that Viktor Orbán typically did not tend to back other people’s initiative, Jobbik’s politician said the PM’s attitude was reflected in his treatment of the wage union, while “nine out of ten of Mr Orbán’s wars are completely pointless.” Mr Vona added that the Hungarian nation had no need for “obsession-driven wars”. Jobbik’s leader then suggested the PM to “step out of his little world” and take a good look at the wage union concept. “What is more important for you, Hungarian citizens’ wages or [government advisor] Árpád Habony’s crocodile leather handbag?” Mr Vona asked him.

Photo: Balázs Béli/Alfahír

Refusing to step out of his war trench, Mr Orbán launched personal attacks on Mr Vona with such witty remarks as Jobbik liked Islam, the migrants, dogs and oligarchs, then he added that you needed more than flowers to protect the borders – even though Jobbik was the first party to demand the government to build a border fence and it is the only one urging to restore the independent border guard service. Mr Orbán said the idea that Brussels could possibly conduct a policy that would be good for Hungarian workers was inconceivable.

In his response, Mr Vona said that he was not the only one to have changed, and told the PM that “you have turned from a fiery young democrat into a burnt-out Communist”. Evaluating the PM’s response, Mr Vona concluded that Mr Orbán was “unable to step out of his little world of obsessions” even though he could certainly benefit from supporting the wage union.

Source: Jobbik – press release