The low support rate of the liberal party was also expected, they received little over 2% of the votes. This can be a catastrophe for them and will probably indicate their fallout of the parliament in the upcoming 2010 Hungarian elections. Expected was that the leading opposition party will win more than half of the 22 EP seats (they have managed to get 14 at the end). The Hungarian Democratic Forum’s 1 seat might not be expected for everyone, but I would defiantly not call it a very unexpected result.

Unexpected is that the far-right party received one in every seven vote, almost making it to the second place of the election. Getting 14% of the votes and acquiring 3 seats in EP is a strong social and political signal to all. General economic crises are historically a good ground for extremist parties to gain momentum. This was topped by the fact that the party “Jobbik” has address socially controversial question that other parties did not dare to touch. No matter how transparently populist (some would even say demagogic) their messages are, there seem to be a solid recipient ground for these in Hungary nowadays. And honestly speaking some of their initiatives do address valid problems. This is bad news for all other parties, if nothing else even from a political tactical standpoint:
- they “stole” votes from the leading opposition party, which might have got even stronger if weren’t for them;
- they almost beat the governing socialist party, if they keep the momentum they might even do so in 2010;
- they took the third power rank from the two small parties, the liberals and the Hungarian Democratic Forum.
It is hard to justify the social impact for the upcoming months just yet and far-right parties are getting somewhat stronger throughout Europe, not just Hungary. But I do believe that trying to reduce the popularity of Jobbik will be the top priority for all other parties. The 2010 parliamentary election will probably have a higher turnout, which is bad news for small parties, but even with their present absolute vote count they would easily make it to the parliament.

Also unexpected is the relatively good position of a party called “Politics can be different” party, which tries to build on many peoples frustration about the Hungarian political sphere. They got more votes than the liberals, still this wasn’t enough to get over the 5% limit to get an EP seat. Anyhow, lets see how they capitalize on their small victory.

Details results can be found on election.hu, unfortunately most content is Hungarian, but the smart-charts are easy to figure out. Also see portfoli.hu’s full review of the results and the election.

In Hungary the summer and autumn seasons are especially culturally sparkling, with lots of events for every taste. Unfortunately its not always easy to find English language information on these events, so I though I share at least two pages that worth a try as a starting point:
- the English section of one of the largest online Hungarian program guides, which might not be 100% translated, but at least selected events are highlighted also in English.
- The international community in Hungary: XpatLoop, where the information pages can also help you choose the right events for you.

Budapesthungaryblog.com and Pestiside also have regularly updated suggestions.

I’ll update this post as I come across further useful links, any such suggestions are also welcome.

This is why I was surprised about a small article I found in a July issue of Webuser magazine. In the “Best new Website” section one of the site’s they write about is called “Treatment in Hungary”. As the Webuser article wrote “Getting medical treatment in Hungary may seem drastic, but it could save you up to 70 per cent on UK costs.”

Now there are at least two reasons why I should not be surprised about this. First of all, I myself also visit a private dental clinic and not a public dental doctor’s office. Their level of proficiency is rather excellent, their knowledge is regularly updated and the clinic is equipped with first-class equipments. Their service really is world-class level. Secondly, the prices are even acceptable to me, meaning it would probably be considered cheap in some Western-European countries.

Probably the same is true for the other medical areas covered by “Treatment in Hungary”. So should I be surprised then again? Private healthcare prospers in Hungary, not the least thanks to the high volume of satisfied foreign visitors. My only remaining question is how this affects the public healthcare system? Is there any positive effect that will be generated or is the current gap going to be even larger? Is this a business opportunity public healthcare could even consider to enter (e.g. using the incoming funds to cross-financing the treatment of Hungarians)? Or is this such a field of operation where public healthcare systems cannot and should not try to move into? Anyhow, they probably won’t for some years, the reorganization keeps those doctors busy who do not lose their jobs. In the meantime, other well trained doctors, assistants and nurses are moving to Western and Northern Europe well they get a much better salary and better working environments.

Disclaimer: I do not have any ownership or financial interest in the operation and business of the Treatment in Hungary website or Websuser magazines . I’m just a simple curious Hungarian citizen, usually treating himself in Hungary, as long as I can afford it

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That task was overwhelming to do by myself and for the time being I failed to find volunteer help to continue chasing the initial goals. I still hope I can someday revive the “Hungarian blogoshpere review in English” theme too. So if you would like to volunteer to help with this please contact me.

From now on I will occasionally write about Hungarian contemporary issues that I think are interesting, helpful or informative to write about to an English speaking audience.

If you have any topic you would like to read about, I warmly welcome your suggestions via email or a comment post.

I had this strange notion during the conference that it is very is to go into this work with assumptions that do not consider the evolution of blogoshere. Yes, I think there is a usual evolution of blogoshperes. For example there is a reason why technology and entertainment sites are regularly more popular and linked. And there is a reason why in many places cultural sharing is not the primary roles of blogging in the initial times. But when the blogoshpere gets stronger topics get more diverse.

The other thing is that it is very hard to encourage just by outside examples. Every people thinks that their country is so different that outside models are just hard to be adopted. It might or might not, but the perception is strong that it is.

So my opinion strongly is that for a successful outreach we would need to help in the growth of the local blogoshpere and other forms of online communication. That starts at a different level and topics compared to than what Global Voices mainly is about. There should be e.g. help provided to generally help blogging especially at the technology and entertainment fields. Establish credibility of the word “blog”. And then and only then will the existence of a blogs be their own incentive. So people won’t ask the “why?” questions, but the “how?” questions and that’s a point where outside example will finally get authentic importance. And we’ll see many initiatives that would be considered unimportant by others, but that is not a problem. As there will something interesting for everyone. If you are interested about technology in a country that you will find, but also if you need info on human rights issues in a country you will have access to people’s views on that also.

The other interesting notion is in getting mobile environment more incorporated (as Stuart Henshall at the conference also pointed out) as it would be more accessible and more easily usable at many parts of the World.

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Last year I came back energized and full of great impressions. This time the cultural environment of the summit location (New Delhi) will hopefully also add to the porbably again exciting athmosphere of the event. Can’t wait! And I don’t have to wait too long now

Please check the Ferenc Puskás Wikipedia page for biographical info, I would only like to quote a few Hungarian blog entries, about the loss of Puskás:

On the blog of the fanclub of a Hungarian soccer team “Isti-Lóri” writes:
“…He was a giant amount the greatest. He has gained a name to himself, his family and his country. Puskás Öcsi showed an example. Love soccer! “Soccer is life itself” this is the message he sends to the young generations.”
(Henrik’s note: Öcsi is the nickname of Ferenc Puskás, it means little brother in Hungarian)

“Duplavé” offers us a surprising, but wonderful semblance. He is comparing the greatness of the Beatles and the similar greatness of the so called “Golden Team” of Hungary (other names commonly used are The Magical Magyars, The Magnificent Magyars, The Mighty Magyars), in which Puskás was a key player. “I think I’m writing about the two greatest teams of all time. A strange parallel indeed. But there are lots of common points.” He further elaborates this idea in several paragraphs on how talent for entertaining will make both of these teams and also Puskás Ferenc himself unforgettable forever.

Finally here is a two and a half minute video you might want to watch.

Rest in Peace Mr Puskás. You’ll name will not be forgotten.

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I have come across two English language blogs that are although very different in many ways I found both very well worth of noting. They address very different point of views of Hungary, one is written by a Hungarian, the other is not and so on you will see.

The first one is ran by Edward Hugh and called Hungarian Economy Watch. Hugh left a marvelous and insightful comment recently on Hungarian Accent. He is a macroeconomist and it is great to know that people like him take the time to care! Thank you Hugh!

I myself wrote a lot in my the previous posts about the scandals and burning questions of Hungary. BUT Hungary is NOT only about scandals, problems and painful things! I love my country, I love to live here. Budapest is a great metropolitan city, there are sooo many things happening in culture and business that it is just to be here and near .
If you have friends who visited Hungary they can and will confirm this .
If not, here is another English language blog source for you, called Budapest Hungary. Its about what to see, where to go and what to do here. Not sure where to go for your next vacation? Check it out and you will know Hungary is the place to visit. And if you coma and want to meet me just drop me an email .

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In the next entry I’ll share two interesting new English language sources about Hungary which I hope you will find useful and also this week I’m planning to add a usual Henrik-stlye entry as well .

I want to write about four topics: the violence, the lies, the media and the path ahead.

Most of the protests were not as violent as some of the most covered incidents (e.g. the siege of the Hungarian State TV) would imply. One of the largest dailies in Hungary recently had an article that organized criminal activities are behind the continuous violent activities. The first day events might have been spontaneous (or not?), but the upcoming are events are organized and there seem to be little clue about how is the “puppet master” behind all of this. Some seem to recognize the fanatic and bounder fans of certain soccer team and one of the assumptions is that they just seek trouble. I don’t not and for the time being I don’t care whichever theory is true. Why? I think violent actions have to be put to a halt! They are undermining every effort of peaceful protestors. As a matter of fact this could also be the reason for it, I can’t know. So based on pure speculation any side can be behind the violent actions and I have a doubt we will ever know the truth about it. Anyhow these should be stopped.

The Prime Minister in his incriminated May speech had a remark about the upcoming economical restrictions:
“There are going to be protest. It is allowed to protest in front of the Parliament. Sooner or later they will get tired of it and go home.”
Eventually and sadly he is going to be right, but in a slightly different context. I bet that the protestors’ persistence of not giving up is also at least partially powered by these sentences. They want to show that they do not give up. It is almost ironic to see how differently the two major political sides see the reason of the protests. Left wing tries to focus on the restrictions and how inevitable these are, as if this would be the main reason. If that would be the case, people would have been on the streets months ago. Right wing tries to shape our vision to see a country-wide consensus of impeaching of the government which is again a strong shift. The country is divided again and I think one of the most disgusting and worst sins of politics is when they try to force conflicts on citizens just to get a necessary amount of voter support. This is so lame and so unfortunately and tragically typical of the Hungarian political landscape in the past two decades (or it might even date back much-much longer…).

On the other side there is an aspect the Prime Minster desperately tries to move attention away. In his speech he clearly admits that his government under his first term and during the elections was lying . Under normal circumstances if a country leader admits in a recorded “testimony” (even if it was only a close-audience party speech) that he won the elections by lies this should be the Watergate case of Hungary. So it seems for some reason these are not normal times. And yes, probably these are not normal times. What shook me even more are two words I heard this week in the news about the recent meeting of the Prime Minister and the Ambassadors delegated to Hungary. The spokeswoman in the radio interview was referring to one of the PM’s statements, when he was assuring the Ambassadors that he wants a Hungary of “less lies” . I might be wrong, but for me this does not mean a Hungary without lies. Less lies means we will continue to lie, just … ehm… less. And this interpretation really troubles me. I don’t know if there is any proper way to ensure accountability of politicians and to give responsibility in what they are doing. It would be a sad and disturbing statement that in our democracy accountability and responsibility do not exists. So I guess the only logical conclusion can be that at top levels there is none who would have interest in building such a control mechanism and that the will and well being of people (i.e. seen and considered only as voters) is only important until they vote and then for four years we do not care.

The other interesting thing is the media response and I want to concentrate on one channel: the Hungarian State TV. For years now, they are struggling to get higher viewer ratings. And then finally came a once-in-a-century opportunity: the protestors go there to present their petition. This was such a rare occasion of grabbing the attention of gigantic portion of the viewers. I mean isn’t one of the most important competitive edge of a media source at this level is “you heard it first hear”. Even if they do not allow one of the protestors to read it, one of the anchors could do it. What bad would have happened if they would have read the petition? It has been widely presented by other channels in a short time. And the country did not exploded because of a short petition. If contra-protestors bring their contra-petition lets read that too. Party neutrality is NOT declining access to public attention, but to give the opportunity to all sides to respond. And this mediated conversion would have happened live, “only on” that TV channel. The short-sighted leadership of TV channel foolishly has missed to grab onto this opportunity. And they paid a terrible price: the siege and all the damage in the people, building and in valuable historical archives. An avoidable price in conclusion of an incompetent leadership decision … again.

So what’s ahead? The quick economic actions are required. There is no doubt. There are no other quick-win opportunities that to turn to tax increases and benefit restrictions. I just hope that when they planned the program they also had growth in mind in mid-term. To set out a fire we should not sacrifice THE future, but as we cannot undo past what we can do is to sacrifice part of present FOR THE future.
I think new elections would not help either. The actions to somewhat balance the budget deficit are urgent and unavoidable and new elections could possibly endanger and definitely delay that. I think resignation of the Prime Minister would also not solve too many things as I do not see any viable alternative figure in the government who could manage to do the reforms, not a single one. What I would like to see is probably trivial throughout this entry. I would like to see peace returned to Hungary. I would like to see the governmental intentions clearly for bettering the Hungarian economy. I would like to see a highly accountable country leadership structure, where they accept and face responsibilities. And I would like every politician to please STOP LYING… for at least 5 minutes please. I know I’m such and idealist.

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