The polls just opened in Hungary for today’s referendum on whether or not Hungarians will accept mandatory migrant quotas from the European Union. The following op-ed was published by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in advance of the vote by the news portal Magyar Idők. Many thanks to CrossWare for the translation.
Every Thirty Years We Hit the Mainstream
by Viktor Orbán
October 1, 2016
On Sunday October 2nd a lot of people will be watching Hungary. We are calling for the Hungarians to take part in an historic referendum.
It is a beautiful tradition of free Hungary, to use referendums before decisions of historical weight, to determine the points of agreement and to act with a unified will.
This is what happened when at the regime change we had a referendum to determine our EU and NATO membership, which was based on our common will. the referendum about unifying our nation with the Hungarians who happened to live outside of our borders was a much harder case. We had more YES than NO, but we could not have cloudless happiness because the leftist Liberals attacked our nation. They denied the rights of Hungarians living outside of our borders, scaring people with the vision of 23 million Romanian migrants.
Déjà vu. Now the same leftist Liberals are advocating against our national interests again.
They sing from the music sheets of Brussels and prepare the field for the settlement of unlimited numbers of migrants without our permission, in the same way as their European colleagues who openly represent it in Brussels.
On Sunday we have a seemingly simple question to answer. But it is like a drop of the sea: everything is in it what could change the fate of the European Union, and in it Hungary. It is a fact worth mentioning that Hungary is the only EU member state that allowed its citizens to express their opinions about the migration.
It is a general European feeling that the elites in Brussels make decisions over the people’s heads, and some of those decisions are against the interests of Europe.
We want this practice to end. Are the Hungarians strong enough alone? Knowing the balance of powers, obviously we are not, but if we want change, someone has to take the first step and that does not depend on size. Today someone who does not believe in miracles is not a realist.
On Sunday we must veto the Brussels elites’ inhuman decision. The forced settlement brings back the worst of our memories: the forced movement of masses of people against their will. The human smugglers and politicians misleading thousands of unfortunate people. They lure them for a thousands-of-kilometers-long journey. They promise them things which are not possible and cannot be fulfilled. And now in facing reality the Brusselites want to make us to pay the price for their faulty political decisions.
They want to push the millions who arrive into places they do not want to live, and force them on communities that do not want this burden.
In politics there are mistakes which can be corrected. But the clock can’t be turned back, and we cannot afford to make such errors. We cannot risk the future of Hungary. Uncontrolled migration means real danger. Our usual peaceful European life and safety are at risk. So the discussion about the migration cannot be kept inside the plastic world of political correctness. We cannot accept the Liberal euro-blah-blah. It is not working; it is ineffective, because reality is escaping from its prison. That is why nobody can keep this discussion within a tight circle of the elites, either. Once the European people have a voice in this argument, there is no doubt about the outcome.
From the proper point of view we can see this is not about a refugee crisis but general migration. This process has been happening for years now, quietly behind the scenes. The only thing that has happened now is that it has become faster and more visible. We can now clearly see the details, the intentions, the dangers and the consequences. This is only the beginning, the scouts — the real pressure will come when millions stop waiting in Africa and start coming here.
This new age of migration will create a situation in Europe which will be bad for everyone and good for nobody.
It will be equally bad for the people living here and for the newcomers, too. We will cease to have peace, order, safety and good life, and there will be chaos, tensions, conflicts, violence and impoverishment. This is not a misty prediction, because we can say with absolute certainty that if we pour two liters of water into a one-liter pot, half of it will flow out. It is also not a prophecy that if someone lets the foxes into the henhouse, it will be bad for everybody, as the foxes will eat chickens and the farmer will shoot the foxes. Everybody ends up losing, and we can’t act surprised about this. Then who wants this? Whose interest does all of this serve? European citizens await answers to these questions.
The thought is not just created in the migrants mind that contrary to Australia, the USA, Israel and all the Arab countries in the Middle East where they refuse to accept refugees, there is a place where they let them in and accept their rights to a better life. They have enough common sense, so there is no reason to be angry with them. It is not their fault. Then what happened?
The politics represented by Brussels brought this trouble upon our heads and invited the unfortunate masses into Europe for a better life.
European leaders must answer these uncomfortable questions from their people: Why did they do this? And why did they tolerate it?
It is very obvious the migrants are not refugees, but are going for economic reasons to Germany, Austria and Sweden. To get to Germany they have pass through five safe countries!
We are not stony-hearted, and it is not easy to say no. But sometimes this is the right thing to do.
This is how to be both fair and smart. We Christians must clarify our relationships to the migrants. We look at them as victims. They are victims of local conflicts and liberal politics that made them believe they can come here because this is Canaan. But nothing dictates that we must sacrifice ourselves, our families, our lifestyle and customs for this.
Every Hungarian knows these lines: “Goodwill is not enough, we also need intelligence.” Intelligence, and without common sense the good intentions will cause more trouble, even much more than they tried to resolve.
As Széchenyi taught us: the mind and heart must live in harmony. Common sense and mercy must be applied together.
This means if we really want to help, then bring the assistance there rather than bring the trouble here. That is the gold standard, that is what our Christian principles dictate. It comes from our Christian responsibilities to undertake only as much as would make the situation better and not worse. Common sense looks at the facts, and not ideologies. Our present facts and experiences are disheartening. The formula is simple. Where they allow the migrants in, they will overwhelm the locals; they are more fertile than the native population. As their numbers grow, they feel less and less need to integrate — why would they do that, when in their eyes they look stronger than the others?
We only need to do some simple calculations to see that this silent battle will be won by them if we allow it!
The economic consequences of the migration are very clear; no man with a half a brain could dispute them. The tragic reality is — as opposed to the false illusions — we cannot use any of the newly-arrived as workforce. Maybe Germany will attempt to sort out the best and hand over the useless leftovers to the others. In the meantime, the defense against terrorism consumes huge resources, and I am not even sure it is possible. The degradation of public safety is unstoppable, and we have not even talked about the social, medical and cultural consequences yet.
Without any theatricality, with quiet honesty we can say: the European Union is at a crossroads. It will either continue in the direction of reformation, or it will fall apart. Hypocritical moralisation, double standards and the increasing arrogance of the liberal elite and endless ideological arguments will bring down the EU. If we can get rid of this disease in European politics, that will be the renewal itself.
We Hungarians were not looking for arguments or the role of the European alarm clock. We just wanted to defend ourselves. We want nobody else to have the right to decide who we want to live with. Based on its sensitive geographical location, it seems that every thirty years Hungary ends up in the eye of a political hurricane. In 1956, when the Soviet Union left Austria we wanted to push the Iron Curtain over our eastern borders and get rid of the world of “homo sovieticus”. In 1989 we opened the borders so as to be part of the German reunification.
Now in 2015-2016 we were the ones who stopped the dangerous migration at the borders of Europe. We did not ask for this task; history gave it to us. We did not run away; we have not backed down.
We will not back down. Even now, those who are firing at our backs we are protecting with high costs, sparing no effort. Unfair? Yes, but not unusual. In 1956 they first encouraged us, but then left to ourselves. After 1990 they did not let us join the EU for fourteen years, and now, instead of saying thanks or giving us some recognition, they insult us.
Was it worth it? It was worth it in ’56, in 1990, and today, too. We are the type of people who do not wait for praise, tolerate well the unfairness of others, and are satisfied with having a clear conscience. This is the secret of our survival and key to future successes. We love unity and friendship, alliances, but if needed we can stand alone, too.
On October 2nd, with the Hungarian referendum, we send a message to every European citizen. We send the message that we European citizens have the power to shake the EU from its destructive path, or let them destroy themselves. Sunday our task is to create an even larger unity. The referendum will decide how strong the country will stand against the battles of interests that lies ahead of us. A strong referendum, a strong Hungary; a weak referendum, a weak country.
Who asks us to abstain from voting, weakens the country, ruins our chances, risks our independence, our safety and everything we Hungarians worked so hard for.
In the next couple of months we must block Brussels from pushing through the laws they want to use to force us to accept migrants. Our comrades in fate, the Visegrad countries, will play a huge role in this. Next year we will see how the elections in large European countries turn out, and what direction the European Union takes.
It will be a long road, but it is worth making the trip, if on October 2nd enough of us say NO in unison.
We need everybody who loves Hungary, and loves it as it is, with its strengths and weaknesses, and who do not want it changed with force and violence.
We need those who cling to the original idea of the European Union, the colorful group of European nations with their strengths and weaknesses. We European citizens must prevent the noble original ideas of the Roman charter from sinking in the swamp of nihilism.
That is what we the Hungarians vote about on October 2nd. Let’s meet there!
— Viktor Orbán
Oh, Magyar, keep immovably
your native country’s trust,
for it has borne you, and at death
will consecrate your dust!
No other spot in all the world
can touch your heart as home—
let fortune bless or fortune curse,
from hence you shall not roam!
This is the country that your sires
have shed their blood to claim;
throughout a thousand years not one
but adds a sacred name.
‘Twas here brave Árpád’s mighty sword
ordained your land to be,
and here the arms of Hunyad broke
the chains of slavery.
Here Freedom’s blood-stained flag has waved
above the Magyar head;
and here in age-long struggles fell
our best and noblest, dead.
In spite of long calamity
and centuries of strife,
our strength, though weakened, is not spent;
our country still has life.
To you, O nations of the world,
we call with passioned breath:
“Should not a thousand years of pain
bring liberty—or death?”
It cannot be that all in vain
so many hearts have bled,
that haggard from heroic breasts
so many souls have fled!
It cannot be that mind and strength
and consecrated will
are wasted in a hopeless cause
beneath a curse of ill!
There yet shall come, if come there must,
that better, fairer day
for which a myriad thousand lips
in fervent yearning pray.
Or there shall come, if come there must,
a death of fortitude;
and round about our graves shall stand
a nation washed in blood.
Around the graves where we shall die
a weeping world will come,
and millions will in pity gaze
upon the martyrs’ tomb.
Then, Magyar, keep unshakeably
your native country’s trust,
for it has borne you and at death
will consecrate your dust!
No other spot in all the world
can touch your heart as home;
let fortune bless or fortune curse,
from hence you shall not roam!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sz%C3%B3zat
Hungxit, Nexit, Finxit, Deuxit, Bruxit.
Keep up the good work, Hungarians! We Europeans rely on you.
Now that’s what a real politician should be like!
I have long admired Viktor Orbán for his common-sense approach. Everything around him emanates good vibes. After reading his speech here, all I can say is that my admiration towards him has soared!
Good luck today, Hungary. Many, many people throughout a beleaguered West are cheering you on and are with you in spirit.
How refreshing to hear a politician with some integrity, and responsibility for the people he represents. So many politicians look upon holidng office solely as an opportunity to make connections that will see them very wealthy when they lose the next election.
As west European citizen, I grew up with the iron curtain separating my free world from the communistic oppression. Nowadays it seems the same curtain splits again EU in two. This time, however, the voices of freedom are coming from east. I support Orban’s vision.
Please, please dear Hungarians. Vote NO to the insane ideas of Brussels. You will not regret it. Just ask yourselves – why are these young men (and it is mostly men) not in their home countries, defending them? Why are they not being sheltered closer to their homelands? and finally who is paying for them to come to Europe?
A plan for the resettlement of “refugees” from outside of Europe in EU-memberstates.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=URISERV%3Ajl0029
The EU-Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos (conservative politician from Greece) on migration: EU needs more then 70 million migrants.
http://www.kleinezeitung.at/politik/aussenpolitik/4880668/EUMigrationskommissar_Europa-braucht-mehr-als-70-Millionen-Zuwanderer
Englisch Version: copy weblink into Google Translator
Seems that almost everybody outside of Hungary (and Poland and Cezch Republik and Slovakia) has gone nuts in Europe.
http://oi67.tinypic.com/33ngcg5.jpg
Thanks for that pointer. There seems to be nothing in the English-language MSM on this remarkable 70 million migrants announcement. Here is the Austrian Kleine Zeitung story, top paras in edited Google Translate:
“Europe needs more than 70 million immigrants”
“Europe is aging,” warns EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos. In the next two decades, more than 70 million immigrants are needed to prevent the aging of the continent.
EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos on Thursday brought a not unknown, but seldom thematised (thematisiert) aspect of the refugee issue onto the agenda: “Europe is aging,” Avramopoulos reminded the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) regarding the demographic trend of the continent. “In the next two decades, more than 70 million migrants will be needed.”
Avramopoulos referred to the EU migration agenda adopted in May and the solidarity mechanism addressed therein between Member States in receiving refugees. “Very disappointed” he described himself regarding the unwillingness of most countries (to help): “Only eight of 28 are ready to implement the decisions taken.” Meanwhile, even Slovakia and Hungary have made complaints at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) against the refugee distribution decision. “Something is not right here,” stated Avramopoulos.
The money wasted on migrants should’ve been used on promoting childbirth by the natives and all problems would’ve been solved.
“Promoting childbirth”? Isn’t this a decision for individuals, based on their circumstances?
Obviously. And many young people postpone this decision due to circumstances the state is capable of improving – for example income too low to support a family of three or four with one income (in comparison of a family of two with two incomes before the child is born). Hence governments should use the money, thrown out to support migration, to support young families instead and thus securing a future working force instead of relying on foreigners (and Germany in particular was always very good at this, you can research it if you want). Another posibility would be tax relieves for families with children instead of just married couples (who get other advances anyway), support for women who want to have a child before the finish their studies, etc. Small things that, at the end of the day, would cost less and do more good than what is being promoted right now.
Yes, but native families don’t vote for more socialism. While migrants do.
Which do you think the control freak self-selecting sociopathic ‘elites’ prefer as they gain more power and an excuse to grab more wealth off the productive ?
Aye, furthermore it’s a decision for individuals who are culturally conditioned.
It is already happening. Families get support from government to get their home if they will have 3 children.
It is already showing change (the program 2 year old I think) the decrease of population slowed down.
That’s good news if it’s being done in Hungary! Other states should follow that example
MarkH-
It is an individual decision.
However, the government can heavily incentivize the choice in certain directions.
In the US, the government has chosen to financially incentivize divorce and single-motherhood. Both trends are rampant right now.
That’s a tough one, raspailwasright. Cutting benefits for single/divorced parents is likely to adversely affect the children.
“There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.”
Julius Caesar Act 4, scene 3, 218–224
Take the flood tide, Hungary!
That’s actually a considered and thought-provoking speech, and not the ten minutes of tub-thumping bluster I was fearing.
That’s what I like about Mr Orbán–he comes across as measured. It’s a lot harder to disagree with people like that. (Although many might try.)
If the Left wants a planet where everyone can move to wherever he/she wishes, then it should argue for Europeans to be able to move to Syria or North Africa or Afghanistan and receive the same assistance and subsidies as in traveling the other direction. And it should argue for Somalis to be able to move to the Hamptons on Long Island. If it is going to spout nonsense then it has to make its wishes symmetrical and fair, or we shall finally believe the Left is utterly malelovant and criminal in its deception.
I already believe that the left is utterly malevolent and criminal in its deception. The stated objectives of the idealists are seldom the actual objectives.
Multi culturalism, for example, attempts to oblige a host culture to abandon its own culture in behalf of uninvited guests. Or perhaps I should say, guests who have been invited by some people to stay in the houses of other others who did NOT invite them. This is not multicultural, it is anti cultural.
I suspect that any sane observer of current news can readily think of a thousand such examples.
Israelis should be able to move to those parts of Israel that the left claims to be exclusively for muslims.
I have been watching the turnout of the népszavazás at the official site http://valasztas.hu/hu/ref2016/1152/1152_0_index.html
As of 1500 30.66 percent had voted. Next update at 1730. Polls close at 1900. I am chewing my nails hoping the threshold of 50 percent is reached but I have fears. The weather is gloomy with rain here and there. I hope it will not inhibit voters. I am glad to see in my humble corner turnout is up to almost 54 percent.
This is such an important vote. It should be more than a partisan issue and yet one professional when asked said, essentially, he hates the Fidesz government and either won’t vote or may vote against it! ‘After all, it is only 1200 migrants.’ And then next time, I asked, what if it is double or triple that? And if each migrant wants to bring in family soon you are up to much more than 1200. Where does it end? Does Hungary want the turmoil as in Austria, France, etc.?? Does Hungary want to be dictated to, again, by a foreign entity? To which he answered, well, you are right…
So we’ll see…
The National Poem
On your feet, Magyar, the homeland calls!
The time is here, now or never!
Shall we be slaves or free?
This is the question, choose your answer! –
By the God of the Hungarians
We vow,
We vow, that we will be slaves
No longer!
We were slaves up til now,
Damned are our ancestors,
Who lived and died free,
Cannot rest in a slave land.
By the God of the Hungarians
We vow,
We vow, that we will be slaves
No longer!
Useless villain of a man,
Who now, if need be, doesn’t dare to die,
Who values his pathetic life greater
Than the honor of his homeland.
By the God of the Hungarians
We vow,
We vow, that we will be slaves
No longer!
The sword shines brighter than the chain,
Decorates better the arm,
And we still wore chains!
Return now, our old sword!
By the God of the Hungarians
We vow,
We vow, that we will be slaves
No longer!
The Magyar name will be great again,
Worthy of its old, great honor;
Which the centuries smeared on it,
We will wash away the shame!
By the God of the Hungarians
We vow,
We vow, that we will be slaves
No longer!
Where our grave mounds lie,
Our grandchildren will kneel,
And with blessing prayer,
Recite our sainted names.
By the God of the Hungarians
We vow,
We vow, that we will be slaves
No longer!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemzeti_dal
Unfortunately the media in Hungary still in the hand of Liberal left paid by Soros. They bombarding the population 24/7. Maybe 10% of media is right wing. Just like in the USA a huge amount of zombies walking around. I see a lot of parallel between Hungary/Orban and USA/Trump.
There are placards are up everywhere, almost everyday the local paper has ‘advertising’ so to speak from the government urging vote ‘no’.
I have thought for a while now that the campaign started too soon and now people are just ignoring it. I hate to think what will happen should insufficient turnout occur. The glee from brussels and the liberals will be intolerable.
Agree about the parallel. Just hope DT doesn’t shoot himself in the foot, at least not too many times…
Curious isn’t it, that the media over the entire western world are so atrociously, stupidly leftist; in other words, traitors! One can only hope for accountability at some future date.
The naive leftists keep bleating about “we must provide a better life for these unfortunates,” really, why? We are NOT our brother’s keeper!
It is one thing to be socially responsible, but quite another thing to be bloody stupid!
Well the NWO learned from the Nazi example. Propaganda is a very effective weapon. Just look at Germany’s (or Sweden) official propaganda machine: “Every German/Sweden is overjoyed to accept more migrants blah blah”
It was not so simply! The Orbán-government is very corrupt, basically a maffia like gang, while the question of the referendum was very stupid, without solid consequences. This was protest wote for many voters from left and right beceause of this. A protest against Orbán’s policy. Not his migrant-strategy, but the other things! The bad things. Many right and especially right wing voters were boycotting this referendum! The moderate right woters because of the meaningless question (the question was not a contradiction of the Lissabon treaty, what authorizes the council for the European level majority decisions in the migrant questions) and the aggressive and primitive campaign, while the right wing woters beceause the governments has huge credibility gaps.
Orban said that even if the 50% isn’t reached, he will take steps in accordance to what was voted for – and as it seems right now the vast majority voted “no”
At 1730 turnout is now shown as 39.88 percent.
I dunno. If people don’t vote, so what? Even if ten percent of those that didn’t vote would have voted no, it would still be a landslide vote for Orban. Also, technically speaking, the referendum is not legally binding on Brusells. Orban should declare victory and say to Brussels “go ahead make my day”
The “binding” aspect of it refers to the provisions of the Hungarian constitution. If there is at least 50% turnout, Mr. Orban is bound by Hungarian law to implement the voters’ choice.
With 85 percent of data processed, what is disturbing to me about the below threshold turnout (hopefully that will change) is why wouldn’t this have caused a large, if not yuge percentage of citizens to get out and vote on an issue which could have enormous implications for their future and those of their children? Why would people not vote? On the other hand, even on the referendum in 2003 on accession to the EU I note that just over 45 percent voted.
I am always mystified by low turnouts.
Jobbik will have a field day with this as they have said Orban should resign if the referendum is invalid. Their solution was/is to amend the constitution.
I think what all of us Central European nations have in common is that we like to ramble about things over a beer/on the internet, but when it comes to a chance of changing something (elections or referendums) we tend to have better things to do, especially on weekends, unless it’s really on our [backsides]. And since Hungary did so well in opposing the migration so far, I guess many people just didn’t consider the issue as acute and went to prepare their gardens for winter instead, or something like that. I’d go as far as to say we believe our leaders should do as the people wish, but aren’t really used to the democratic methods of letting them know what that is.
Isn’t Jobbik pretty much dependant on Fidesz though? They might have some seats in the parliament, but there’s no way they would win elections with enough % to not need a coalition. Much less enough to be able to change the constitution.
Because they are not taking seriously the danger. Even now they are sheltered by the government holding the islamic horde outside of the fence…
He should have never held a referendum, obviously the majority of Hungarians don’t want migrant resettlement. It was just a theatrical/political maneuver on Orban’s part to cement his legacy.
Tell me should I vote on whether or not I want to get cancer?
It had to be done, because with the local Soros paid Liberals in concert with the EU crime partners tried to make it look like all Hungarians really wants migrants but the fascist dictator Orban and his government forcing them to the other direction. That was the official line they were pushing very heavily in the MSM. The referendum took away the power from this propaganda and showed the government really representing the people. This was actually an opposite non-confidence vote.
Totally agree, but you know what they’ll do now? Spin the “low” turn out.. lol