Among the war murmurs that have sounded for almost a year in almost all of Europe, like a peaceful island on a sea full of raging waves, Hungary lies.
At a time erstwhile the old continent is at war, the fever, erstwhile even mostly reasonable Finns or Czechs send arms to Ukraine, makes things clear in Budapest. "Hungary recognizes Ukraine's right to self-defence, to fight external aggression, but it would not be right to put Ukraine's interests before Hungary's interests," said the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
We would besides like this attitude from the Polish government. Not to quit aid to those in need. But to put the interests and needs of Poland and Poles before abroad interests and needs. That's how we see the state's right.
It is no wonder that for respective months now the readers of “Polish Thoughts” have found more and more information and comments on Hungarian attitudes and policies. And more and more reprints from the Hungarian press. We have now decided that the time has come to strengthen our cooperation with our Hungarian partners. Nothing serves this as direct contact. This is how the thought of going to Budapest was created.
The deadline for a abroad visit was not random. On March 15 Hungarians traditionally celebrate the National Festival of Hungary (Nemzeti ünnep). It is simply a commemoration of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. This sweet and bitter memory besides has an crucial Polish theme. 1 of the insurgent commanders, and for any time even the chief chief of Hungarian troops, was the Polish general Joseph Zechariah Bem. Unquestionably an exceptionally capable officer, but an unfortunate politician. The Budapest General's monument, which is above the square of his name, gathers Hungarian and Polish delegations each year at this time.
However, we did not go to Budapest to lay wreaths under monuments (and in any case not just for that). With col. Adam Laughter We had dozens of conversations there. You will find the effect of any of them shortly in our weekly (also online) and on our YouTube channel. I invitation you to read the interview that we conducted in the awesome neo-Gothic building of the Hungarian Parliament with László Toroczka, leader of Mi Hazánk national party. Following Jobbiku's decision towards a demoliberous opposition, Torockai and Mi Hazánk appear as the future of the Hungarian national movement.
An interesting conversation with I'm yellow Yeszensky. Jeszenszky is simply a highly recognized journalist, presenter and commentator in Hungary. He utilized to be active with the no longer existing Pesti tv and presently works for Hír TV, where he runs the program "Politikai hobbita".
Preferably, however, the most crucial from a cognitive point of view were not authoritative meetings, but private conversations and accompanying observations. Our interlocutors, whether cooperating with Fidesz or criticizing him from right-wing or nationalist positions, were in agreement in one. Many times we heard questions like: “Why are you going into this war? “Why are you helping Ukrainians? Don’t you remember what they did to you?”
Hungarians remember. Although this wound is rather different from the Volyn, it is freshly scratched. In fresh months, respective tens of thousands of Zakarpackie Hungarians have fled Ukraine to Hungary. They do not want to die for you, who have persecuted them for years. Especially since, according to our interlocutors, the Zeleński administration has seen it as a point of honor to make cannon meat from representatives of local minorities.
So it is no wonder that there is no love for Ukraine among the Madzers. Even in the “progressive” Budapest, it is vain to search for Ukrainian flags on the streets. We have seen a full of 2 throughout our stay. 1 in the form of a ribbon was worn by an older gentleman – a associate in a modest anniversary rally of the demoliberist opposition. The another decorated the car on Ukrainian plates.
Meanwhile, in the very centre of Budapest, a fewer steps from the building of Parliament and St. Stefan's Basilica are arrogant of the obelisk in honor of the “Soviet heroes liberated” (in a somewhat amazing company of presidents Ronald Regan and George Bush). 1 of our interlocutors, afraid about this different view, concluded with a disarming sincerity: “We have no reason to love Russians. But we can separate the past from the present."
Przemysław Piasta
Think Poland, No. 13-14 (26.03-2.04.2023)
