Not long after I started this blog I wrote that it is not easy to chose topics which could be really interesting to an outsider about Hungary. These past weeks have proven me wrong. And I think I’m not very happy about it. First an intro of what is happening and then a few reactions from Hungarian blogs.

This time (two days ago) it started with a leaked speech recorded back to May at a party forum. The Prime Minister was speaking. And although there are a few way you can read some of his statements there was clear enough sentences about how much they lied to the public in the past 4 years, also that they cannot be proud of anything from their previous governmental period except that they were able to win again with lies.
The style of the speech (i.e. usage of swear words) is also disturbing to hear from a Prime Minister.

Instant political reactions are naturally very different on the two major sides.
The Prime Minister tries to point to the fact that at least finally someone “bravely” stepped forward and is promising to work to solve the economic problems via strict and honest actions.
The opposition party leader (who have just spoken live on TV in an interview about this affair) of course focuses attention much more on the responsibilities of the past 4 years. Also claims that honesty is questionable as the confessions were not addressed to the nation, but only to a close party group.

The question has been raise instantly about who might have leaked the tape. Whether it is a provocation of the opposition party before the upcoming (in two weeks) municipal elections. Or is the Socialist party brave enough to use this as a method to drive attention away from the very strong and painful taxation and other actions that were taken.

But that is not all and probably not the most important aspect. Thousands moved to the Parliament to protest against the Prime Minister (requesting resignation) and somehow yesterday things got out of hand, when a smaller group of protestors move to the building of the Hungarian State TV. They wanted their petition to be read on live TV. (The petition was demands for the resignation of the Prime Minister, the rethinking of the economic restriction program, the impeachment of the government, immediate new elections.)

But officials denied their request. Police forces were unable to handle the situation and the “siege” was successful. Outsides cars burnt, inside the building and equipment are damaged.

If some of you are surprised about the fact that why they wanted to get into especially in the building of the state TV, this is an iconic factor dating back to the revolutions of 1956. Ironically enough, even the state TV used this factor a few months ago in its marketing campaign: “if there would be a revolution which TV station would You want to take over?”. I’m sure this was not the answer they were hoping to get.

I was watching the live TV coverage of the siege and I have to say I agree with those who say that only a small minority of the mass have turned to violent actions. Many have stayed far away from trouble. I have heard opinions that this small minority of violent protestors were part of a political provocation riding the wave of the people’s anger because of the aforementioned Prime Minister speech.

what do some of the bloggers write about in this situation?

En1 writes that if the Prime Minster were a responsible leader, he would step forward and announce his resignation, because for this matter he is the only responsible.

Korbely’s opinion is that these violent mob actions should not be confused with a revolution. Instead these are illegitimate actions for any cause and are much similar to a violent soccer-fan-war than a revolution.

Toros writes that the Rector of one of the largest Universities of Hungary (ELTE, Eötvös Loránd Science University) declared today an extraordinary Rector “holiday” for protective reasons because of a “planned event of an unidentified non-university organization”.

There are opinions about the media coverage also, especially about an opposition-party-close news TV called HirTV.

Kond is worried about freedom of press. Because HirTV has been banned from the covering. Especially as CNN and BBC has also used their previous coverage about the siege, so they should be treated with respect in protection of freedom of press.

On the other side Bakura writes that the siege coverage of HirTV was in his opinion disgusting as the coverage were cheering for the mob.

Today the 5 parties of the Hungarian Parliament have singed a common statement of disproval of violent protests. Still as I write these lines according to news there are more people on the streets and police forces are on a much higher readiness state. God help us to get over this crises soon, without any further extension of violence.

Tags:
Lies
Riot
Hungary
Prime Minister
Impeachment