Tolgyessy on Fodor's Free Democrats and Orban's proposals

Fodor is not the man to bring about serious reforms within the Free Democrats, and the Socialists will continue to govern with outside support. Orban's leaked remarks should have been the perfect opportunity for an open dialogue over the country's most serious problems. The Socialists missed this opportunity, it would seem, remaining that lies and campaign slogans will continue to dominate. Peter Tolgyessy spoke to hvg.hu.

Péter Tölgyessy

hvg.hu: Will there be early elections? Fodor, the new Free Democrat leader, has rejected a Fidesz call for this, but we know never to say never.

P.T.: Since autumn 1992, the Free Democrats have clearly been a party on the left of the Hungarian political spectrum, and the new party leader will not change this. For years, Gabor Fodor was perhaps the best-liked hero of the reform intelligentsia. But since 1995, this awkward junior university lecturer has become increasingly unpopular with the Free Democrat elite. Yet his politics differ from that which has led the party into its current crisis only by the fact that he is perhaps more smiley than the rest of the them. There's a real question mark over whether he has the commitment, enthusiasm and strength to make anything of his leadership.

The Free Democrats recalled their ministers in April, but, despite a couple of parliamentary questions, they continue to support the government's motions in parliament. They've just become external members of the cabinet, in effect. The relationship between the two parties of the Hungarian Left have entered the most serious crisis in their decade-long cooperation, but that cooperation hasn't ended. It looks like the minority government will last, even to the end of its four-year cycle. But a government interested only in restoring its own popularity hardly serves the country's interests.

hvg.hu: And if the Socialists get rid of Gyurscany, will the Free Democrats' position change?

P.T.: It's certain that the the Free Democrats won't enter another proper coalition with Ferenc Gyurcsany. But it looks like the Socialists are only prepared to change the government if placed under strong pressure. But the Free Democrats have shown their partner that they will in any case support the Gyurcsany government, come what may.

Gabor Fodor has been agile and appealing, but he hasn't found a way to stop his party being torn apart. His latest statements suggest that he is sticking to what just weeks ago was seen as the worst of all worlds: his party will decide whether to support the government on a case-by-case basis. Until now, the Free Democrats have had 250,000 voters in local and parliamentary elections. So it's not impossible to take the party above 5 per cent again. But the Socialists are also hoping that if they gain time they can save themselves.

hvg.hu: That was their game when they attacked Orban for his remarks at the Keri seminar.

P.T.: Since losing power in 2002, the Fidesz has attacked the government mercilessly. The Socialists have been in a corner for the past six years of government, and now they are trying to fight back. Until now they have just condemned the opposition. Now they are using the kind of opposition tactics Fidesz applied after the Oszod speech was leaked. There has been far more lying in public life since the Oszod speech. You can win elections by infuriating voters, but it's hard to govern afterwards. At last it has become possible to speak about what has to be done, about how Hungary's social model can be addressed.