Letter to the editor: A warning from Hungary

OPINION:

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar campaigned as a moderate who would defend families and national interests, then turned sharply left once in office.

Alex Soros, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and European Union leaders celebrated his victory.

Americans should pay attention.

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Recently, in these pages, Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban presented her government as moderate (“Hungary embraces a new era under Peter Magyar,” Web, Sept. 29), but Mr. Magyar’s campaign promises have given way to radical policies and an assault on conservative opponents.

Viktor Orban is prohibited from returning as prime minister and leading opposition figures have also been barred from running for office. Hungarians have been denied the chance to bring their former leader back, as Americans did with President Trump.

Constitutional changes also ended the terms of constitutional office holders.

The state nationalized conservative institutions, including Mathias Corvinus Collegium and the Danube Institute, seized and closed Hungary’s largest conservative media outlet and temporarily shut the museum commemorating communism’s victims.

The former culture minister is under arrest and authorities seized the opposition’s records on party members and activists.

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Hungarians recognize these methods from the communist era: Political opponents are treated as enemies and independent institutions are brought under state control.

The government is also dismantling conservative policies on gender and the family, is repealing child-protection provisions and preparing to allow same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.

Parents have lost free access to the child sex-offender registry. Groups promoting gender ideology have returned to schools and the media.

Hungary’s government has rolled over for Brussels, rejoining the International Criminal Court and abandoning resistance to EU migration rules.

Promised tax cuts have morphed into plans for higher taxes, including an annual wealth tax that is already driving capital away.

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Viktor Orban accepted defeat in April and handed over power after 16 years of being falsely branded a dictator. Still, his opponents seek to destroy his movement.

Conservatives retain the right to organize and win elections. By the time voters demand change, the government may have dismantled the institutions that make it possible.

This is liberal authoritarianism. Don’t let them fool you, America.

BALAZS ORBAN

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Member, European Parliament

Budapest, Hungary