On the perfectly lawful method of preventing opposition demonstrations

Nothing really new, just a continuation of a well-functioning method.

Different government entities have reserved virtually all places suitable for gatherings on March 15, a national holiday in Hungary and traditionally an opportunity for opposition forces to show themselves.

This means that, as in prior year, there will be quite simply no place for opposition parties to gather and demonstrate.

Legally the method works perfectly well, as - understandably - there can be only one demonstration at a time in a given location.

Also, as the public has learned last year, the law does not foresee that there is an actual gathering/demonstration/whatever held at the reserved site.

End of story.

'Gypsies should not exist' - waves

After a short period of contemplation, governing Fidesz threw its weight behind Zsolt Bayer, who quite simply called for the extermination of Roma in a newspaper article.

Even Bayer's publisher, a well-known oligarch, and an ally of PM Orban, withdrew the initial lukewarm apology and called upon his readers to unite behind Bayer. He called the protests against Bayer's remarks 'an attempt to create rifts in right-wing unity'.

Yesterday then produced a true piece of art, as a handful of demonstrators gathered before Fidesz party HQ to protest their stance. There they were greeted by a molino hung onto the HQ's walls, carrying the following message:

'Do not side with the killers. Do not listen to Ron Werber'

The first sentence refers to the deadly dispute which had served as an apropos to Bayer's article, and in which the attackers were allegedly Roma.

The second is a reference to the Socialist party's campaign consultant, who helped them win the 2002 elections and has now been hired again by the socialists. As in 2002, his appearance has massively angered right-wing voters, as he is, supposedly, of Jewish origin.



PM Viktor Orbán remained, tellingly, silent all along. This prompted some observers to lament whether Bayer's remarks could be part of a greater strategy of Fidesz to lure the voters of far-right Jobbik.

'Gypsies should not exist' - reactions

{For the original claims, click here}

Of course, everyone looked to the governing party Fidesz of which Zsolt Bayer is a (prominent) member.

A minister, Mr. Navracsics's words were interpreted as a call for ousting Zsolt Bayer from the party. He called Bayer's statements grave and unacceptable and added: 'people who call groups of humans animals have no place in a community'. 

However his view remained in minority in his party, apparently. 

Fidesz' spokesperson produced yet another true gem by saying: ' Mr Bayer wrote the article as a journalist {i.e. not as a Fidesz member}. Fidesz understands society's emotions in connection with certain recent crimes, given that in short time two sportsmen have been killed in knife attacks, but public figures should not be writing or speaking in a hot-tempered way'.

She added that society may form an opinion on a journalist's articles, but she would not find it appropriate for Fidesz to do so.

Finally she warned against putting Bayer's remarks in the same bracket as MP Gyöngyösi's ones, who had famously called for a list of MPs and government members with Jewish origins. 

Máté Kocsis, head of communication in Fidesz, called the protests against Bayer's remarks 'a circus' and said he understands Bayer's feelings, it's merely his style he's not okay with.

Pro-gov media anchor: 'gypsies should not exist'

Introducing Zsolt Bayer, a journalist and proud holder of the governing Fidesz party's membership badge nr. 5 (meaning he's a founding father).



He has been a key organiser of the 'peace marches', giant demonstrations in support of Viktor Orbán's government (for which he received an award just days ago from... the government).

As the iron fist of the fidesz-controlled media, he's stirred controversy quite a number of times in recent years, e.g. when he accused jews of 'blowing their nose into the nation's swimming pool' or when, as a reaction to criticism against Orbán, he expressed his regret that not all left-leaning people were dug into the earth in the woods of Orgovány (that's where after WW1 far-right paramilitary units murdered high numbers of allegedly left-leaning citizens).

Now he used an argument-turned-fatal among youngsters to share his views about Hungary's Roma population.

“A significant part of the Gypsy population are unfit for coexistence. They are unable to live among humans. These Gypsies are animals, and they act like animals. They want to mate/rut whenever they see someone and with whoever they see. If they meet resistance, they kill. They defecate wherever and whenever they feel like it. If they feel obstructed, they kill. They want to get whatever they come across. If they do not get it immediately, they take it and they kill. These Gypsies are incapable of all human communication. Their animal skulls emit inarticulate sounds, and all they understand of this miserable world of theirs is violence. [...] Those animals must not exist. In any sense. This is what has to be solved immediately and by any means!”

This gentleman has a well-known excellent relationship, based on mutual respect, with the prime minister of Hungary, Mr. Viktor Orbán.