The International Libertarian

Thousands of protesters gathered to protest outside the Hungarian state television station demanding Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány resign after a tape revealed that he and his party have been lying for 1.5-2 years about the true state of the economy and future measures to win elections in April. A crowd gathered in front of the national television MTV on Szabadság tér (Freedoms square) and about 50-100 people rushed up the stairs and attacked the building, throwing stones, cobble stones and setting cars on fire. The fire has now spread to the building itself.

What led to this event was the taped admission by the Socialist Gyurscany that, "We have screwed up big time." http://www.portfolio.hu/en/cikkek.tdp?cCheck=1&k=2&i=9547

While in their election campaign the MSZP and the SZDSZ promised tax cuts, besides a number of other favourable measures, the government announced a fiscal adjustment package already in June. The austerity measures e.g. tax and contribution hikes, price increases, etc. are needed for Hungary to slash its bloated budget gap - en route to hit 10.1% of GDP this year - to 2.9% by 2009, a target set out in its revised euro convergence plan submitted to the EU on 1 September.

“We have not much choice. Because we have screwed it up. Not just a bit, (but) big time. No country in Europe has ever done anything so impudent that we did. [...] We have obviously lied over the past one and a half, two years. It was absolutely clear that what we were saying was not true," Gyurcsány said at a faction meeting of the Socialist Party in late May in Balatonõszöd.

“[...] the real question in Hungarian politics is not anymore who lied and when, but who is the one that can put a stop to this," the PM said in the foreword of his blog note.

“Who is that dares to face - honestly, sometimes passionately and with a loose tongue - the lies and half truths of the past 16 years? We did it," he added.

The breadth of his admissions as to the failures of the Socialists economic policies over the past 16 years were astounding. I am not surprised people are revolting at the depth of the deception. Here are a few examples:

Property tax no good

“Let's levy property tax on everyone. [...] Do you know how much we would collect from property tax if we tax every single property that is worth more than 5 million forints? The balance of the whole thing is less than 20 billion forints. [...]"

Reform or fall

“[...] Reform or fall. There is no other choice. And when I say fall, I mean Hungary, I mean the left side and I tell you frankly I also mean myself."

It's great to lead a f...ing country

“It is a fantastic thing, doing politics. It's amazing. It is sensational to lead a country. I managed to go through with the past one and a half years because I was driven by one thing: to give back the left the faith that it can do it, it can win. That it doesn't have to bow its head in this f...ing country. That it doesn't have to shit itself from Viktor Orbán and the right and that it should at last learn that it should compare itself not to them but to the world."

Making history

“This gave me the faith why it's worth doing this. It was grand. I loved it. It was the best part of my life. The one (driving me) now is that I'm making history. And not for the history books, I don't give a shit about them. I couldn't care less if we're going to be in them, or if I'm going to be in them. (The question is) whether we will do something big. [...] it's worth being a politician here in the early 21st century so that we create another world."

Hard to lie

“I almost died when I had to pretend for one and a half years as if we were governing. Instead we lied in the morning, we lied in the evening. I am through with this. We either do it and then you've got your man, or you pick someone else."

You change! No, you change!

“It is no reform that I tell the others to change. It is no reform how we stand out in front the people and keep telling them a mantra. The reform is that we are also willing to rethink what we have thought and done so far. Compared to this, the task of the first months, the task of the adjustment is a pure must, I confess. But you're wrong to think you have a choice. You don't and I don't either. The only choice today is whether we try to influence what is happening or it will all come down on us."

Get together! Right now! Oh, yeah!

“I believe it can be done. I think there will be conflicts, yes. There will be rallies, yes. They can go ahead and rally in front of the Parliament. Sooner or later they'll get bored with it and go home. The only way to see this through is if you believe in the essence and there is agreement on the essence. If you sidestep conflicts within (the party), if you get scared of hurting interests, we must not start (the reforms)."

Bullshit, Mom!

“Of course, healthcare is complicated. But if you go to a healthcare institution you see it is built on heaps of lies. [...] Since they know my mother's name (Katus Gyurcsány) in Pápa, she receives better service, damn it! She did not understand what was happening. Has the healthcare system been mended, my son? I tell her: Bullshit, Mom! The truth is that now your family name rings a bell. That's scandalous. In comparison, the visitation fee is nothing in social sense. That is no scandal, only cumbersome politically and uncomfortable to pay...because it can have grave implications politically."

Let's not dick around!

“We must be clear about what we're about to start. The first few years, of course, will be terrible. It is of absolutely no interest that (only) 20 percent of the population will vote for us. Last summer Szonda said only 18 out of 100 people supported us. And it was last summer, people! A year later we won. What if our popularity would be lost because we touch some heavy social issues and not because we dick around in the party? And it's no big deal if for some time we lose support. We'll get it back. Because (eventually) they will comprehend."

F...ing great books about the modern left

“I can only tell you that I won't be playing games this way or that. We do our job. Until we can go forward at a fast pace, we go at a fast pace. If we cannot and you explain me that “Yes, but..." I don't think I'm needed for that. You need someone else for that. And then I'll write some f...ing great books about the modern left."

When have you ever read such a frank admission by a socialist of the utter bankruptcy of their economic policies? Of the typical social policies of any european country you travel to? It is startling.

One is only left to wonder whether people protested tonight, and set fire to the television station, either to protest against the lies of the Socialists, or to protest against the admissions being released to the public.