Hungarian Politics

[Tamas]

My guess is that he is looking for a protector and supporter for the time he leaves the EU around 2010 or so.

Will this mean he can close his borders and stop Tamas from trying to leave the country?

Too late for that, unless he closes them while I happen to be back visiting my family 

[Tamas]

Previous Minister of Finance, and current prez of the Central Bank, Gyorgy Matolcsy is quite the character, his ineptitude and total cluelessness has been known, but two particular new details about it have been made public by the just-released book written by his former cabinet chief.

The lady spent 355 pages praising the genius of this man. He also spotted the genius in two particular things:

-Matolcsy probably actually believes in the global conspiracy theory against Hungary. He has read about it from a popular pulp fiction novel released in 2011. He was so enticed by the revelations in the book that he read it in one night and then forwarded the relevant evidences to PM Orban

-In 2011 there was a time where Hungary could not sell bonds to save the country's life, and the collapse of the currency was imminent. Matolcsy, still Finance Minister, secretly started negotiation with the IMF on calling them back to the country. It was to be announced publicly a couple of days later
But, on the very same day, he had a formal lunch with two representatives from Goldman Sachs.
The writer delightfully writes, that Matolcsy casually mentioned to the GS reps that he has just signalled the IMF for help (which was surely to make Hungary avoid imminent bankruptcy). "the forks stopped in the hands of the Goldman Sachs people" and they excused themselves to leave for the restroom.

Actually Matolcsy interpreted this as the shock and awe and fear of the international conspirators, having been exposed to his genius.  Needless to say probably the guys were on the phone to buy Hungarian currency. And yes, two days later there was a significant raise in the EUR HUF exchange rate after the IMF deal went public.

[The Brain]

There is no global conspiracy against Hungary.

[Jacob]

I guess it's not insider trading when you get the information from a head of state?

[Syt]

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304157204579471531530313704

Hungary's Controversial Leader Rallies Support Before Election

PM Viktor Orban Expected to Win Another Term Next Weekend

BUDAPEST—A week before parliamentary elections, Hungary's controversial leader defended his track record saying the country became "a racing car" under his leadership of four years.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is expected to win another term next weekend, during his tenure implemented measures that had frequently put him on a collision course with the European Union and drawn Hungary closer to Russia.

After winning the 2010 elections in a landslide, Mr. Orban's government has introduced sweeping changes, giving the country a new constitution, Civil Code and election law.

To avoid potentially unpopular fiscal austerity measures, Hungary levied special taxes on some sectors of the economy dominated by foreign firms and raised taxes on banks to the highest level in the European Union. Mr. Orban parted with the International Monetary Fund soon after his election victory due to a difference in economic preferences.

According to the latest polls, Mr. Orban's center-right Fidesz party will likely be supported by 38%-40% of voters, with 15%-19% backing an alliance of major leftist opposition parties and 12%-16% supporting the far-right Jobbik party.

Fidesz has turned Hungary into "a fast and daring racing car from an old banger with a punctured wheel," said Mr. Orban, whom political analysts often term as populist.

Fidesz has "expanded equitable burden-sharing onto banks and multinational companies,...and has successfully fought with the Goliaths of the financial world," Mr. Orban told a cheering crowd in Budapest's Heroes' Square.

At this same spot in 1989, Mr. Orban demanded that Russian troops stationing in Hungary return home in a speech that propelled him onto the political scene .

Mr. Orban added Fidesz had "freed Hungary from the helping embrace of the International Monetary Fund, returned the country to its Christian roots, and united the nation scattered around the world."

Speaking at a rally of 450,000 supporters, according to the Interior Ministry, Mr. Orban asked voters this weekend to grant him four more years at the country's helm.

The Hungarian leader was expected to win the election in 2002 and Fidesz won the first round of voting. But the party lost the election in the final round to its biggest opposition, the Socialists.

The second round of voting has since been eliminated through Fidesz's recent revamp of election law.

Should it win the election next weekend, Fidesz has said it would maintain its high taxes on certain firms and get at least half of the country's bank sector, dominated by foreign firms, back in Hungarian hands. It has cut utility prices for households at the cost of the privately-owned suppliers and wants to reduce them for companies as well. It has been renationalizing energy companies and plans to make the utilities sector nonprofit.

At a rally of 50,000 supporters in downtown Budapest on Sunday, a coalition of the biggest leftist opposition parties called upon their supporters and the large number of those who are yet undecided to vote for them.

Should they win, they said they will reestablish checks and balances, promote press freedom, strengthen ties with the European Union, establish new jobs and attract foreign direct investment for economic growth, the coalition's leaders pledged.

"We will bring back the Hungarian Republic," said Attila Mesterházy, head of the Socialist party and the prime ministerial candidate of the election coalition, referring to the Fidesz government's change of the name of the country to Hungary from the Hungarian Republic.

[Razgovory]

Hey, If they get throw out of the EU does that mean Tamas has to go back where he came from?

[Valmy]

Hey, If they get throw out of the EU does that mean Tamas has to go back where he came from?

They get tossed and thousands of Hungarians lose their jobs throughout Europe and are forced to return to Hungary all at the same time.  I bet that wouldn't be ugly at all.

[Ed Anger]

Hey, wasn't that a Larry Bond novel? Cauldron?

France tosses the foreigners out and starts shit.

[Agelastus]

Hey, wasn't that a Larry Bond novel? Cauldron?

France tosses the foreigners out and starts shit.

Yep; an example in fiction of the "Let's invade Poland" option as a solution to Europe's problems.

Doesn't work in fiction any better than it does in real life.

[Razgovory]

Hey, wasn't that a Larry Bond novel? Cauldron?

France tosses the foreigners out and starts shit.

Oh God, I have that book.

[Tamas]

Hey, If they get throw out of the EU does that mean Tamas has to go back where he came from?

They get tossed and thousands of Hungarians lose their jobs throughout Europe and are forced to return to Hungary all at the same time.  I bet that wouldn't be ugly at all.

try hundreds of thousands.

[Razgovory]

Is there some sort of downside to all this?

[Tamas]

Is there some sort of downside to all this?

we invade your basement instead.

[Syt]

It's funny, a large part of the Austrian coverage focuses on ZOMG Jobbik Nazis on the rise.

[Tamas]

It's funny, a large part of the Austrian coverage focuses on ZOMG Jobbik Nazis on the rise.

Are they worried Hungary will catch up to them?