Schiffer András: Orbán Anita inkompetenciáját mutatják az elmúlt napok botrányai

Summary

The discussion examines the October 23 commemoration of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, focusing on its foreign guests, Ursula von der Leyen’s speech, and the state of Hungarian diplomacy.

Guest List and Hungary’s Diplomatic Standing

Gábor Gavra questions why few senior leaders from EU member states attended, despite earlier expectations of prominent guests. András Schiffer attributes this both to diplomatic missteps by Budapest and to a broader lack of solidarity from Western and Northern Europe toward Central and Eastern Europe.

Schiffer notes that leaders from several countries seeking closer ties with or accession to the EU did attend. He suggests they were more motivated to take advantage of opportunities for access to European institutions.

Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Relations

Schiffer describes Hungary’s current foreign policy as aligned with the European mainstream. He argues that it has abandoned relationships developed under Viktor Orbán with countries in the Global South, the Western Balkans, and elsewhere. He calls the recent diplomatic handling incompetent, while noting that Hungary’s limited influence and the indifference of other European capitals also help explain the lack of high-level visits.

He rejects the idea that experience in global business automatically equips someone to manage relations between states.

Parliamentary Ceremony and Political Legitimacy

Gavra considers the absence of opposition parties from the ceremonial parliamentary session a failure, comparing it with earlier occasions when Fidesz governed without seeking broad agreement. Schiffer agrees that excluding the opposition can weaken legitimacy, but says Tisza may not view it as a failure because it considers the opposition illegitimate. He also criticizes the party’s rhetoric toward its opponents.

Von der Leyen’s Speech

Schiffer argues that the European Commission president’s remarks went beyond commemorating the anniversary. He objects to her praise of the new Hungarian government and her references to EU funding, Erasmus, and Horizon Europe, calling them inappropriate and an intervention in domestic politics.

He also disputes the rationale for excluding some Hungarian universities from those programs, arguing that the rules were applied inconsistently and that the dispute had political consequences.

The European Union and Central Europe

Schiffer says the Commission is increasingly acting like a political authority rather than an administrative body, and argues that EU centralization benefits major corporate interests. He suggests the Visegrád Four could have served as a counterweight to the Berlin–Paris axis and Brussels, but that cooperation has weakened.

In his view, some European leaders now identify more with Atlanticist and global political currents than with regional or national ties.

Orbán’s Future and Tisza’s Identity

The speakers consider whether Viktor Orbán may be trying to position himself outside day-to-day politics. Schiffer suggests that staying out of the political fray could help preserve Orbán’s standing while a new government faces pressure.

They also discuss whether Tisza’s identity, built largely in opposition to Orbán, would be harder to sustain if he withdrew from the scene. Schiffer argues that without that unifying opponent, Tisza’s diverse voter base could become unstable.

Presenters and Contributors

• Gábor Gavra: Host
• András Schiffer: Guest and commentator