What is the reason for Hungary’s early opening and is democracy dead in Hungary? – VIDEO
“Has Viktor Orbán killed democracy in Hungary?” these were the line the programme UpFront of Al-Jazeera started on April 9th with. Within the framework of the programme, Marc Lamont Hill interviewed Hungary’s Secretary of State for International Communication and Relations Zoltán Kovács about several issues at hand.
In the first point, Hill asked what was the reason behind Hungary’s decision to start easing restrictions and going against the opinion of many doctors, even though the death rate of the pandemic in Hungary is among the highest. In his answer Zoltán Kovács talked about the different nature of the third wave and that Hungary is applying a different tactic. Hill cited the Vice President of the Hungarian Labour Unit of Doctors:
“Doctors find it incomprehensible how there can be a communication about a reopening so soon just when we should be talking about tightening how to improve existing curbs”
Hill suggests that the Hungarian government does not follow the opinion of healthcare workers. Zoltán Kovács emphasized in his answer that in their response, the government does not only take into account the healthcare sector but other sectors as well. Hungary needs to “reignite” the economy to help those who lost their jobs or about to and also to improve the mental health of people who have not been able to conduct their life normally; cannot go to work or school for any reasons.
The interviewer steers the questions in the direction of free media in Hungary, highlighting that the Hungarian government does not let non-state media outlets into hospitals to report about the handling of the pandemic.
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Zoltán Kovács defends their position by pointing out that they inform the public in outlets that have been used since the pandemic, such as the public service radio and television giving reports on a daily basis. Marc Lamont Hill challenges the Hungarian secretary by asking why Hungary has been accused of controlling almost its entire domestic media. Zoltán denies the accusations and explains that it is part of a political game from the Hungarian domestic opposition and that there are no real lawful grounds for the accusations.
Hill asks another pressing matter about the compromise of human rights as he reads out that Hungary has used its emergency powers to pass a law criminalising criticism of the government’s response to the pandemic, put a total ban on protests, it ended the legal recognition for trans people and had banned same-sex couples from adopting children.
Zoltán Kovács answered with parallels to Western and other global countries having similar measures to stop the spreading of fake news and the help of handling of the pandemic situation.
The interview goes through with the question of whether Hungary abides by one of the European Union’s core values, the Rule of Law. Zoltán Kovács highlights that no accusations towards Hungary have been proven and argues that the freedom of Hungarians has not been corrupted.
The interview goes on into other issues for the remainder of the programme. If you would like to watch it yourself, you can do so here:
Read alsoWhat is expected to change in Hungarian COVID measures?
Featured image: Still from YouTube video
Source: Aljazeera.com
8 Comments
When the same people fully control legislative, executive, judiciary powers, as well as universities and media, that means the country is not free, and certainly not democratic. Period.
Mario forgot about elections. If the people of Hungary want to change the government, 2020 is their chance.
The vacancies of the judiciary are always filled with government appointed judges, e.g. UK and USA. Judges usually follow the Constitution if they are anyway competent. The government does not and never controlled the media. It is true that leftist socialist and communist news media went bankrupt, that is the result of a free economy. Universities have to be economical and teach courses that will help the economy. Teaching courses that do not suite the job market is a waste of money. The government already provides free university education and that cost must never be wasted. It makes total sense.
Presently, many EU countries do not deal with reality. Money is wasted. Certain crimes are escalating because of their policies. People of Germany, France and Italy do not recognize their country. It is time to look at your own government before criticizing a country where laws are enforced and people do not have to worry about their safety. Hungary simply puts its people first which is a good policy.
Mario, you must be thinking about the US, not Hungary. Hungary is more free and democratic than America!
Maria Von Teresa, beautifully said.
HUNGARY MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT to get so much “attention”.
Hungary is doing what Hungary deems best for its people.
Look around you, (if you can make an unbiased judgement) non of the countries are doing so well.
It is blind desperation that prompts this kind of conduct from the “left”.
The media from the “left” with the blessing of those powers interested in “teaching Hungary a lesson”
are the culprits.
Everyone can see through their machiavellian machinations.
The majority of Hungarian people are very happy with the way the country is run.
To put it simply would the “opposition” please concede defeat, save your energy for something more useful.
Common sense must prevail.
All this country is being sold to Chinese, beware, bring sold back unwillingly to communism!
Mario also forgot another FACT.
Many of the EU countries have had several so called “tries” at PARTIAL reopening.
It is so easy to sit back and criticise.
LIVES come first but one must have an eye on the ECONOMY at the same time as one can not exist without the other.
Yaaawwwnnn..!
Hungarians are not even a bit special!
Neo-fascism is the contemporary “cool” in the cultural-zeitgeist virtually everywhere across this one-&-only Planet.
If anything, the Turks and Russians beat everybody to it — not just Hungarians.(
Although, the former is a bit-complex and wasn’t THAT much of an early-bird, as opposed to Hungary.)
So against whom is Hungary hoisting itself as “special”? Poland???
Yaaawwwnnn..!
Hungarians are not even a bit special!
Neo-fascism is the contemporary “cool” in the cultural-zeitgeist virtually everywhere across this one-&-only Planet.
If anything, the Turks and Russians beat everybody to it — not just Hungarians.(
Although, the former is a bit-complex and wasn’t THAT much of an early-bird, as opposed to Hungary.)
So against whom is Hungary hoisting itself as “special”? Poland???