21st Congress of Fidesz - Hungarian Civic Union

Created: 28th September, 2007 14:26 | Last updated: 29th November, 2006 12:34	print	send

The city of Győr was chosen to host the event because for the first time since the political changes the Fidesz candidate was elected its mayor on 1, October 2006. The nationwide success at the local elections producing a landslide victory for Fidesz was the occasion for the meeting.

The congress began with a one-minute silence to remember Ferenc Puskás, the legendary Hungarian footballer who passed away the previous week.

Tibor Navracsics, leader of the parliamentary group of Fidesz emphasized that "a new chapter has begun in the history of Fidesz on 1, October 2006", referring to the victory at the polls. He pointed out that Fidesz was the strongest party in Hungary since it delegated most of the mayors in the country as well as most of the members of local councils while having a strong lead in opinion polls too. The strength of the party lies within its openness, tolerance and the broad political spectrum its members represent. He then added that since 2003 Fidesz had become a real people's party.

From next January to April, Fidesz proposes to start a political discussion on four issues: social justice, the quality of life, public services, and the role of the government and competitiveness. Navracsics believes that following a political dialogue focusing on these points a new strategic document can be presented to the next Congress due in May, 2007.

There were modifications in the Statutes of Fidesz, the most important being the creation of the National Forum of Local Representatives, a body aimed at synchronising the work of mayors and local representatives delegated or supported by Fidesz and also at helping to carry through the local policy of the party. Viktor Orbán, Chairman of Fidesz - Hungarian Civic Union was elected to lead the Forum which will be divided into three separate levels: local, regional and national.

In his speech, Viktor Orbán gave an assessment of the current political situation and clarified the standpoint of Fidesz. Referring to the local elections, he said that the results might be interpreted in a way that "Hungary has woken up". The victory of Fidesz justified the party's expansion to have become a real Civic Union, since without the help of political allies no such victory could have been obtained. "There is a moral and political crisis in Hungary, as well as a drastic increase in the cost-of-living".

The chairman of Fidesz made clear that "while the socialists continue lying we will uncover their lies, just as we have been doing in the debate on next year's budget. People are now forced to pay for the mistakes the government made in the past, as opposed to what the cabinet keeps saying". He underlined that whenever a member of the incumbent cabinet says the word "reform", it in fact means taking money away from the people. The present government is therefore not capable of carrying out the reforms needed, and the drastic decrease of living standards will not be temporary, but is "just the beginning", he added. A social rupture threatens the country as only a minority enjoys the benefits of public services while the rest are left behind; "there are two economies in Hungary: a successful sector based on foreign investments and one characterized by day-to-day struggle for survival, the latter being that of the small- and medium-sized Hungarian enterprises", Mr Orbán concluded.

"The current crisis in Hungary has been caused by three politician-turned-billionaire businessmen, who now tell us that there is only one way out", continued Orbán referring to the PM, the Minister of Economy and Transportation and the Minister of Finance. He stated that this was not true, real reforms were an alternative way out of the present situation. "Real reforms are equitable, i.e. they result in lower unemployment; are carried out on a local level, by the local municipalities; they build rather than destroy", said Mr Orbán.

The task of the largest party of the opposition remains to uncover the government's lies and to help prepare the reforms at local level, pointed out the chairman of Fidesz. "There are alternatives so a social debate on the future is needed. This means a referendum that will help strengthen and save the Hungarian democracy" he added, referring to the referendum initiated by Fidesz on 23, October. Hence the new slogan of Fidesz will be "democracy without opportunism".

fidesz.hu