Outsiders

John Lukacs provided a foreword to Sir Bryan Cartledge’s The Will to Survive: A History of Hungary, which provides a comprehensive overview of the history of Hungary. The foreword starts: “It is difficult for an outsider to write the history of a nation, especially if the language of that nation is special and its history is an endless series of battles for self-defence and independence.” And how right he is. On 2 October 2016, three and a half million of the nation’s registered voters proved that they feel responsible for their country’s destiny and that self-defence can and should be given a voice in the 21st Century as well. However, it is indisputable that four and a half million citizens did not participate in the referendum. Almost four and a half million people did not accept responsibility for their nation. They acted like outsiders. I am afraid that our outsider brethren might not understand, or don’t want to understand, what the essence of democracy is. They don’t understand that the highest and most direct degree of democracy is the referendum, which provides everyone who is registered to vote an opportunity to decide what kind of future they want. On 2 October, voters could choose between yes and no; they could also choose to invalidate their ballots. But to not participate is a sin. Those who didn’t go vote should no longer expect the state to build roads, maintain schools, pay pensions, provide protection from terrorists, serve justice against criminals, or perform any public services. We not only have rights towards the state; we also have obligations. And if someone doesn’t acknowledge this fact, they shouldn’t voice their rights, either. Our obligation in this difficult, unprecedented situation was to tell the state what we expect from it and from the representatives of the state. After 3 October, those who didn’t vote lost their moral basis to voice their opinions regarding or to question any state measures, or lack thereof, pertaining to migration. I believe that four and a half million registered voters are sadly not interested in their own country and irresponsibly view the nation as actual outsiders. Of course the high number of invalid votes doesn’t exactly tell of having a feeling of responsibility, either. Maybe it was simply fun to deface the ballot. However, we know their intent was obviously to make the referendum unsuccessful. But at least they took the trouble of going to the voting booths. But yes, the outsider thinking and the bad intent towards the government melted together and the referendum ended up being legally invalid and unsuccessful. And yet, the decision that was made could be revolutionary in the history of the EU. It is revolutionary, despite the repugnance shown in Hungary and by all those EU leaders. It might even help better the Union. After all, we are members of the EU, and we are here to stay. Anyhow, it will be crucial regarding migration, since it upsets the notion for introducing the crazy, misanthropic, compulsory quota. Yes, Hungary was again forced to take steps in its self-defence, with which it is protecting not only itself, but all of Europe, just like it did so many times over the course of its history. And the outsiders don’t understand what that strength is in this little country, in one third of its population. When Hungary has been on the edge of ruin and trampled upon so many times, where does that strength come from? If we look back at just the past one hundred years: we have suffered through the Treaty of Trianon, through Soviet and communist oppression, through privatization, and now the quota. The outsiders both inside and outside our country’s borders don’t understand the basis of self-defence. They don’t understand, or they never experienced the true nature of communism; or, to the contrary, they experienced it first-hand are still reaping its benefits. Either they didn’t live through the 150 or 45 year oppression of foreign powers, peoples, and cultures, or they did but yearn for that 45-year period in history. But these people still remember the horridness of co-tenancy. The type of co-tenancy where the families of strangers were forced to move into the apartments of the bourgeois and to use the same bathrooms and kitchens. They remember co-tenancy, where tens of thousands of intellectual families were broken up and ruined by forceful relocations, only to be ousted by the original owner and to have their valuables, which they had worked for, taken away by the people forced to live with them. Let’s not forget that some people still live in these types of villas, and now they urged others not to participate in the referendum. Well it is these people that I refer to as outsiders within the country: they will never understand the spirit and will to survive in Hungarians who are not outsiders. Those people who quickly organized the migrant move from Belgrade towards the Hungarian border after the referendum are also outsiders. Information has it that the No Borders organisation is behind this new wave of people, which is sure to result in yet more controversy. The founder of this organisation was once a Hungarian, and now he lives is Australia. Who knows how many people there are both within and outside our borders who have a material, moral, or political interest in seeing Hungary’s policy of protecting the nation and Europe fail. But it won’t. Because patriotism, protection of the nation, legality, the love of order, and actual humanitarianism will overcome all outsiderism driven by other factors. So it might be difficult for an outsider to write a history of Hungary, but we will no longer allow outsiders to define the country’s history. We have had enough of co-tenancies forced upon us by outside powers. Hungary will never again have a communist attitude, despite the endeavours of any hopeful outsiders. And have no doubt, globalism-touting liberalism and communism feed from the same source. Believers in these concepts are forced to be outsiders when they face the notions of nation states, national identity, and the protection of the nation. Too bad. Hungary is a beautiful country. We have to protect it. Thank you to those who thought so on 2 October.

Izabella Bencze
CÖF founder

The Rejuvenated Hungarian Countryside

Ever since its foundation, the Civil Unity Forum (Civil Összefogás Fórum) and Civil Union Public Benefit Foundation (Civil Összefogás Közhasznú Alapítvány), briefly CÖF-CÖKA has taken an active role in solving the social and economic problems faced by Hungary. CÖF-CÖKA has recently devoted large amounts of funds in Nógrád County to develop a Local Production Communities programme to help strengthen rural society and increase its income producing capability with the use of untapped, available capacities in agriculture. According to the plans, this county-level process will serve as a model for a social effect that will encompass the entire nation. It already directly involves several hundreds of families, with its indirect effects even more wide-ranging.

CÖF-CÖKA aims to develop a structured system that results in a tight, prosperous cooperation of agricultural integration and the members of the production chain by involving the civilian, state, and private sectors. In line with national agricultural policy, this system can serve to significantly empower the competitiveness of agricultural sectors while also contributing to improving the living standards and the standard of life of the local populace by bettering outlooks and income potential. The communities thus formed provide a foundation for effective utilization based on the cooperation of local resources by providing the coordinated and harmonized operation necessary for optimal utilization and resource management for the members of the production-manufacturing-end user chain.

In the course of the operation of the Local Production Communities, the involved bodies of the state sector participate by providing supervision. This, complemented by the productive role of the civil sector and the active work of the private sector (local families), is in itself capable of increasing capacities and providing for any missing functions. The social and economic aspects of rural agriculture will thus be renewed in an integrated manner.

The projects that make up the programme provide realistic opportunities for locals that take the form of actions with small resource requirements that effectively create value and jobs. They are built on the cooperation of the given community and on the utilization and development of existing resources with minimal resources.

There has never been an example for a similar close cooperation between civil, sate, and private sectors aimed at renewing Hungary’s rural agriculture. The objective CÖF-CÖKA has set for itself and for its communities is to revitalize the Hungarian countryside, to provide for the active operation of self-sufficient local communities, and to make high quality agricultural products a public treasure. These will form the basis of the future of agriculture.

If you would like to find out more about the Local Production Communities programme, please visit the Hungarian civilosszefogas.hu website or write to us in English at [email protected]

cof-cba csizmadia diosjeno

 

Hungary is Performing Better

Economic experts are surely still influenced by the negative headlines that were once used to describe the economic policies of the Orbán administration. During the Government’s first years, articles were mainly about near-bankruptcy. Rarely did they give any positive examples. Today, the situation has changed entirely. Even if there aren’t multitudes of international articles that praise Hungary’s economic performance, the figures speak for themselves. Hungary’s GDP is presently 15 % higher than when Orbán’s Government took over power six years ago.

According to the most recent GDP data, the Hungarian economy grew by 2.6 % in the second quarter, which significantly surpassed even the analysts’ forecasts of 2.2 %. It should also be noted that after the GDP results of the first quarter, which is mainly attributable to one-off items and ended up causing disappointment to many members of the government, the amount of EU funds provided in the second quarter was also less than expected. However, as we will soon see, that is not the only thing driving the economic motor. This result is exceptional on an EU level as well (the second highest), and almost all economic sectors have contributed. In light of the encouraging signs, the nation’s performance can be considered maintainable, which puts the government’s target of 2.5 % growth within reach.

This turnaround that leads to a stable economic growth of about 3 % is based on several factors. Industrial production is growing stronger, especially in vehicle production and the related segments. Significant growth is also experienced in the service sector, which is one of the results of the increase in real wages. The strong increase in disposable income and near-zero inflation have a beneficial effect on demand, which is apparent in both the retail and the tourism sectors. The drop in the unemployment rate and the increased level of employment has led to public consumption becoming an increasingly important factor. Last but not least, the export performance of domestic companies has led to a further increase in Hungary’s foreign trade balance, which contributes to stimulating economic growth through net exports.

In summary, it can be established that after many difficult years, Hungary is once again on the path of stable growth. It is very important to maintain our momentum: an economic recovery plan has to be developed that ensures GDP growth levels of 3-5 % can be sustained. Thanks to these real economy processes, the state of the general government sector is becoming increasingly stable. This strengthens Hungary’s economic position by reducing deficit and state debt.

CÖF-CÖKA Legal Cabinet

On the Hungarian National Trading House: Let’s Dare To Be Big

It seems that the motto of the melancholy opposition in these past years has been “Let’s Dare To Be Small!” It doesn’t matter how they view Hungary’s performance, they always manage to find fault. They then hurry to shine the spotlight on it. The list of the problems discovered by the opposition is long (though most are quite polarized) and are only suitable for grabbing the media’s attention for a minute or two. However, it is worth examining their latest criticism, directed at the 2015 results of the Hungarian National Trading House (MNKH). Before we discuss the (biased) evaluation of the performance of the MNKH, I would like to provide some information on Hungary’s exports, which the institution aims to improve. Historical data prove that until 2012, Hungary’s foreign trade balance remained positive primarily through the consistent decrease in the amount of imports. In addition, the low rate of consumption was one of the by-products of the incorrect management of the recession. However, the situation showed a dramatic change after this time: thanks to the increase of the export market share and advantageous trade figures, Hungary’s foreign trade balance was almost 10 % of the GDP. Market share decreased significantly (by 23 %) between 2008 and 2012, after which it grew by almost 8 % almost every year. The volume of Hungary’s exports has increased by 30 % since 2010 and exceeded EUR 100 bn last year. The fact that Hungary is performing better is (also) attributable to Hungary’s carefully chosen foreign trade policy. The Government correctly identified the fact that besides an export market that is based on more secure foundations, new markets also have to be discovered. One of the elements of this policy is opening up towards the east and the south. The MNKH, established three years ago, is one of the tools for doing so. And, contrary to the opinions of some experts from the opposition, it was not conceived by the devil. Similar institutions operate successfully in the USA and in many European Union Member States (such as Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, etc.). It should be noted that the success of institutions such as the MNKH can be measured not only according to the results of their balance sheets, but also in the successfulness of the partner companies that utilize their services.

The amount of HUF 6 bn of losses, which was touted by the press and was presented in a biased manner, can seem like a large sum. But if we also take into consideration that the partner companies of MNKH, which are now present in 60 countries, realized export revenues of HUF 895 bn in 2015 (with an annual increase of HUF 135 bn), the distorted negative result is dwarfed. In addition, it should also be noted that the trading house network, which almost doubled in size, was one of the elements that caused the greatest increase in last year’s costs. These houses and offices help create a platform for successful business that would like to export their goods or services. Simply put, the cost was incurred by the Trading House while the increase in revenue and profits was realized by small and medium-sized enterprises, which indirectly strengthens Hungary’s economy. In summary, it can be established that any approach used by the opposition to stay afloat, no matter how derisive and malevolent, fades into nothing as soon as we see the full picture. It would be naive to assume that any players involved in foreign trade that open up to a new market would see positive results from one day to the next. The index we should be looking at is the one that shows that Hungary’s exports are continuously breaking records, and we are all reaping the benefits. Let’s Dare To Be Big!

CÖF-CÖKA Legal Cabinet

 

Transplantation

The neoliberal elite in Brussels has strayed from the path designated by the citizens of the European Union. What they’re doing is the opposite of Mother Theresa, the symbolic representative of Christian solidarity and love. She ignored all political interests to mediate divine mercy and bring help to all corners of the world.

However, Chancellor Angela Merkel, the embodiment of displaying solidarity in the interest of maintaining power, has not chosen the true Christian way. The steps she is taking lead backwards: the mission she considers to be personal has not reached the people in Africa and the Middle East who are in need, she has not dressed the war wounds of the injured, and she has not given water to quench the thirst of people with parched throats. The Mother Theresa-like role she played has been quickly unmasked. Mother Theresa travelled the world collecting donations in her ceaseless endeavour to bring aid to the needy. As a messenger of divine mercy, she was driven by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to perform the work that the Creator had given her.

Contrary to this approach, Willkommens-Kultur is a misguided conceptual “revelation” that opened the door to the Islamic armies travelling against the flow on Christianity’s one way street leading to God. The result is the persecution of Christians and chaos in society.

It has become clear that the structure of Western society as based on spiritual community, which dates back thousands of years, does not tolerate the introduction of foreign entities. The prophecy that an Islam heart can be transplanted into a Christian body is a false one.

While there are limits to validating political and business interests, love spread in the name of solidarity can be boundless. Citizens of Europe can now experience first-hand the difference between offering “aid” (as per Merkel) and the mission of Christian mercy and love.

All of Europe is suffering from a bad decision made by one woman, who for a long time had been exemplary in how to lead Germany. Ms Merkel has ended up caught in the net of financial giants who capitalize on human vanity and use Europe’s long standing success story in the interest of their aspirations for a global empire. The Chancellor has been persuaded to use the strength of the German economy to act as the unelected leader of the European Union. At first, the tactical approach developed by the magnates seemed be a clever gambit. The two leaders of the European Union, Schulz and Juncker, chosen as a result of contraselection, act as courageous wingmen who have Ms Merkel to thank for their utopic existence in Brussels. It is no wonder they servilely do everything their “creator” asks of them.

The fate of the Union cannot depend on the will of one woman or the global power-favouring bags of money lined up behind her. (More and more of us are starting to think so.)

The people of Europe have awoken. The community of people opposed to ultra-liberalism and terror democracy is growing ever stronger. Not only is the halo of the Chancellor fading away: hundreds of thousands of citizens are demanding that the outdated governance of the EU also be reformed. People are raising their voices against their fate being unilaterally decided by politicians longing for autocratic power. The financial lobby has deeply ingrained itself into the web of politics in an attempt to privatize Europe’s economy. Meanwhile, it is using the “temporary” stationing of the army it maintains to also acquire Europe’s land.

The antidote to this unfolding conspiracy could be for the citizens of Central and Eastern Europe to provide a peaceful but militant response. The democratically elected prime ministers of the V4 countries know that their countries were crushed by colonial oppression for more than 40 years following World War 2. These countries were simply thrown to the Soviet Union: the West purchased their own peace at our expense. The freedom we regained in 1989 is a treasure. The primary goal is to maintain the sovereignty of our nations. Moreover, neither the sovereignty nor the identity of Europe are for sale. By relying on their cultures, the allied nations of the European Union are able to find the solution to all of their common problems. There is no need for false “guardian angels.”

Brexit is a serious loss for the EU. It was caused by the leadership of the EU: they haughtily tout the departure of the British as some sort of victory. Thanks to them our defence has further weakened. The conquering hordes of economic migrants interspersed with terrorists are threatening our existence. Because of the imminent financial downfall and bankruptcy of Greece and Italy, which have been decreed to protect the Schengen borders, Europe has become exposed to the immigration policy of the bureaucrats in Brussels. The strongest member of the NATO, the USA acknowledges Turkey’s blackmail with eyes downcast.

The question is, what are we waiting for?

Europe’s countries have to have separate militaries that are each strong on their own. This increases the protection of their respective nations and, if the continent is in danger, they can form a deterrent force together with NATO.

In the European Union, the Hungarian government was the first to initiate a referendum on rejecting the quota of foreign migrants. The decision pertains to the future of our nation. There is no room here for siding with political parties, only for Hungarians sticking together.

Why, you ask?

Because the immigrants who attack our wives and daughters in the street and in the shadows will not ask whether we voted yes or no before they commit their brutal acts.

All of Europe will be watching us on 2 October. In 1956, the young people of Hungary paid for a few days of freedom with their lives. We now have to maintain our sovereignty without any weapons. We must do so peacefully and while demonstrating European solidarity. We must do so by voting no. The successful referendum is another message to the peoples of Europe.

The saying can finally be true: one for all and all for one! The Europe of the future needs a healthy approach and cannot stand for the Christian heart and soul to be transplanted with an Islamic one.

László Csizmadia
CÖF-CÖKA Chairman