The Hungarian Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs János Bóka recently claimed that there is no reason to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hungary’s accession to the EU. But does the Hungarian opposition maintain a similar view? To gain insight into the opposition’s perspective, TVP World’s correspondent Owidiusz Nicieja interviewed Péter Márki-Zay, who back in 2022 was Hungary’s united opposition’s candidate for the Prime Ministership.
Márki-Zay said Hungary joining the EU is an event that merits celebration.
When asked how is it that 20 years ago, during a referendum to join the EU, 83% of Hungarians voted in favor of accession, yet today they vote for a party known for its fervent Euroscepticism, Márki-Zay responded that this is a rather convoluted matter, and that there is no “easy explanation for this.”
He however stressed that “Hungary is still amongst the nations in Europe where Europe’s popularity is one of the highest. Hungarians love the EU. What is interesting is that our government doesn’t share this sentiment of the people.”
He highlighted the hypocritical nature of the Viktor Orbán-led government, which continuously attacks the EU, the very institution which provides them the opportunity to “steal huge amounts of European taxpayers’ money, and enrich themselves and their families.”
He pointed out that according to Orbán’s propaganda, “Europe is full of no-go zones, and… is a decaying society.” But he said that what this propaganda fails to account for is that during the last 14 years of Orbán’s rule, about 1 million Hungarians have left their country, and almost none of them went to Moscow, Beijing or Istanbul. “They all went to the rotten West, as Orbán puts it,” he clarified.
He also remarked that had Hungary not joined the EU 20 years ago, it would have been very difficult for the country to join the bloc today since it would likely not meet the requirements for the accession, given its deterioration in democratic norms. “Hungary currently is not a democracy at all,” he said.
When asked how is it that 20 years ago, during a referendum to join the EU, 83% of Hungarians voted in favor of accession, yet today they vote for a party known for its fervent Euroscepticism, Márki-Zay responded that this is a rather convoluted matter, and that there is no “easy explanation for this.”
He however stressed that “Hungary is still amongst the nations in Europe where Europe’s popularity is one of the highest. Hungarians love the EU. What is interesting is that our government doesn’t share this sentiment of the people.”
He highlighted the hypocritical nature of the Viktor Orbán-led government, which continuously attacks the EU, the very institution which provides them the opportunity to “steal huge amounts of European taxpayers’ money, and enrich themselves and their families.”
He pointed out that according to Orbán’s propaganda, “Europe is full of no-go zones, and… is a decaying society.” But he said that what this propaganda fails to account for is that during the last 14 years of Orbán’s rule, about 1 million Hungarians have left their country, and almost none of them went to Moscow, Beijing or Istanbul. “They all went to the rotten West, as Orbán puts it,” he clarified.
He also remarked that had Hungary not joined the EU 20 years ago, it would have been very difficult for the country to join the bloc today since it would likely not meet the requirements for the accession, given its deterioration in democratic norms. “Hungary currently is not a democracy at all,” he said.
Source: TVP World
