[Grem] Guardian cikk Orbánról / I just don't recognize Orbán as a tyrant

[Emoke Greschik]

 I don’t recognise Viktor Orbán as a ‘tyrant’ Tibor Fischer
<https://www.theguardian.com/profile/tibor-fischer>
The western media’s portrait of the Hungarian leader as an enemy of
democracy and an antisemite isn’t just puzzling, it’s disgusting
Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister, votes in Budapest in last
year’s referendum on the EU’s plans to resettle refugees. Photograph: Vadim
Ghirda
Thursday 20 April 2017 20.00 BST Last modified on Thursday 20 April 2017
22.00 BST

The possible closure of the Central European University
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/12/frans-timmermans-eu-commission-central-european-university-budapest-hungary>
in Budapest has unleashed waves of denunciations directed at the Hungarian
prime minister, Viktor Orbán, in western media. Orbán has been accused of
leading an “assault on freedom”
<https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/opinion/hungarys-assault-on-freedom.html?_r=0>
in the New York Times, while one Guardian writer
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/12/viktor-orban-appeasement-merkel-centre-right-hungary>
has summoned up the spectre of Munich 1938.
We know the price of appeasement. That’s why we must stand up to Viktor
Orbán
Timothy Garton Ash
Let’s go over a few facts many west of Vienna seem unable to understand.
Hungary <https://www.theguardian.com/world/hungary> is a democracy. It has
a wide range of political parties (a lot more than, say, the US, which is
only one party away from being a one-party state). It has free and fair
elections. It has a parliament that passes legislation. The quality of
legislation can vary greatly, as in any democracy, but like most legal
matters that is a matter of keen debate. If citizens are unhappy about the
legislation, they hold demonstrations, as they have been doing.

Orbán has aroused a lot of ire with his talk of “illiberal democracy
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/15/dirty-tricks-demonise-george-soros>”.
I would like to underline the word democracy in that formula, which tends
to get overlooked in the frothing of his critics. It should also be noted
that in current Hungarian political usage “liberal” doesn’t have the
connotations of “civilised”, “enlightened” or “generous”, it’s a
portmanteau for leftwing conventions. I accept that an anti-left stance
isn’t going to win Orbán fans among the Guardian’s readers, but I trust
they might be willing to accept that someone who has a different opinion
isn’t automatically wearing jackboots.

I find the criticism that Hungary no longer has a pluralistic media
especially puzzling. That’s a harsh judgment on a country: the sort of
judgment that requires evidence. I always find it interesting how people
who don’t speak Hungarian feel entitled to accuse Orbán of “muzzling the
press”.

For the benefit of those who have no Hungarian, I can give you a long list
of television, radio, print and internet outlets that are not only prepared
to be critical of Orbán, but devote themselves exclusively to trashing him.
Indeed some of the criticism and satire is of a savagery rarely seen in
Britain – it has to be conceded there’s very little adult debate when it
comes to politics in Hungary.

If I want to know what’s going on in Hungary I check www.index.hu
<http://index.hu/>, which is fairly balanced, but enjoys needling the
government. If I want some tabloid fun, I go to www.444.hu <https://444.hu/>,
which is unrepentantly anti-Orbán. Anyone with a phone can have access to
“clean” news or denunciations of the prime minister if they want.
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/20/viktor-orban-tyrant-western-media-hungarian-leader-democracy-antisemite#img-2>
[image: Sign that reads ‘Don’t close CEU, Orbán to the jail’ in protest
over Central European University, in Budapest]
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/20/viktor-orban-tyrant-western-media-hungarian-leader-democracy-antisemite#img-2>A
man holds up a sign that reads ‘Don’t close CEU, Orbán to the jail’ in a
protest against a law that could close the Central European University, in
Budapest. Photograph: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/20/viktor-orban-tyrant-western-media-hungarian-leader-democracy-antisemite#img-2>
Orbán has also been condemned for his treatment of migrants. Some see his
detention of the people flooding in over the border as unreasonable. It
might not be the ideal solution, but unlike the EU – which is sitting on
its arse in bewilderment – Orbán is actually doing something. I am the son
of refugees and I can assure you that if my parents had been detained when
they arrived in Britain in 1956, in safety and with regular meals, while
matters were sorted out, they wouldn’t have complained: they would have
said “thank you”.

The most disgusting accusation made against Orbán is that of antisemitism
<http://hungarianfreepress.com/2016/07/19/viktor-orban-and-his-responsibility-for-rising-antisemitism-in-hungary/>
– as George Soros, the billionaire behind the Central European University
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/09/thousands-protest-in-hungary-over-bill-threat-to-soros-university>,
is Jewish. Orbán is the man who introduced Holocaust education into
schools, passed a Holocaust denial law
<https://www.thejc.com/news/world/hungary-court-orders-denier-to-visit-auschwitz-1.41588>
and whose government financed Son of Saul
<https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/apr/28/son-of-saul-review-auschwitz-holocaust>,
a film about Auschwitz that won an Oscar.

The amendment to the law on higher education that has caused the recent
furore affects 28 foreign institutions in Hungary, 27 of which were found
to be operating with “irregularities” (largely sloppy paperwork, something
that will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with university admin).
None has been fined or shut down.

Many, probably most, academics at Hungarian universities disapprove of the
amendment, which they feel is bad for research, but the Central European
University is not being singled out for punishment: it’s asking to be given
privileged treatment.

This is not simply about freedom of speech or independence of scholarship.
The CEU is legally a Hungarian university. Under the amendment the same
buildings, the same canteen, the same umbrella stands, the same courses,
the same bitching about Orbán and his wickedness can continue, and students
can get a qualification recognised in Europe
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news>. The government can’t touch
them.

What can’t continue, without a new deal, is the practice whereby the CEU
can also issue a diploma accredited in the US – it is registered in New York
<http://nonprofits.findthecompany.com/l/162706/Central-European-University>
– without actually operating a campus. Until now, CEU students have been
getting double bubble.

Obviously that was an attractive deal for students so, should the CEU lose
that option, it will make the university less marketable. However, if it is
so much the centre of excellence that its supporters claim it is, it should
still be able to attract students. The issue is bums on seats and dollars
as much as anything else.

I have followed the progress of this institution since its creation in
1991, and I know many of the staff. One of the salient themes it has been
banging on about for nearly 30 years is the rule of law. Perhaps the CEU
should adhere to its own principles and comply with the law. Then everyone
can vote against Orbán next year
<https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-04-13/hungarys-orban-eyes-2018-election-with-anti-soros-university-law>
.
--------- következő rész ---------
Egy csatolt HTML állomány át lett konvertálva...
URL: <http://turul.kgk.uni-obuda.hu/pipermail/grem/attachments/20170428/11f621a5/attachment.html>