Speeches

The working conditions of teachers in Hungary today are best described by the word crisis. Despite the lofty promises, Hungarian teachers are forced to face the terrible reality of low wages over and over again. This only exacerbates teacher shortages and contributes to rural school drop-outs, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This also seriously undermines the right of young people to equal education. The recently introduced pay increase of 32.2%, although lower in reality, is a significant step forward, but not sufficient to meet the vision of a sustainable teaching profession. Moreover, only the wage increase does not solve the serious infrastructural and professional deficiencies of the Hungarian education system. Low wages and the resulting shortage of teachers are only one element of the crisis of Hungarian education. At least as big a problem is the almost complete lack of autonomy of schools and teachers, the extreme centralization and thus the elimination of initiative and creativity from the system. The government’s approach to national curricula and teacher education reform, which excludes trade unions, also indicates a worrying direction in terms of inclusiveness and quality. When we call for EU support in reforming education, it is essential to create an environment that promotes teaching and learning, ensures an equal allocation of resources, and promotes dialogue that involves all stakeholders in shaping a future-oriented education system.

Dear Mr President, My fellow Members! The rule of law procedures against Hungary were launched with a good goal, not to steal EU funds, but to spend them on what they were meant to do, to develop Hungary and to support the Hungarian people. However, we see that the rule of law procedures, while important, are not sufficient to ensure this. In a normal country, the prosecutor's office would take those who steal these EU funds to court, but in Hungary there have been no normal conditions for 14 years. For example, according to a recently released audio recording, the Attorney General is colluding with the government. We have to say that EU funds are not safe with the Hungarian government. I therefore ask the Commission to support our joint proposal with my colleague Katalin Cseh and to make the payment of all EU money conditional on joining the European Public Prosecutor's Office, as this is the only way to ensure that EU money coming to Hungary really benefits the Hungarian people and does not enrich Viktor Orbán's economic circle.

It is very convenient to mix different uses of the civilian flag from your position. I would like to ask you what exactly your CÖF organisation does in the course of Fidesz's political work, but I do not know if you have read this draft legislation before us, which states that in Europe there are no borders in trade, there are no borders in the labour market, and then there should be no borders if a European civil society organisation wants to do civil activities across Europe. You completely misunderstand the functioning of the civil society organisation, and you want to act against the independence of civil society organisations precisely in order not to create a civic consciousness in Hungary that might contradict the autocratic, repressive systems that you are building. First, learn what civil society means, and then talk about it in this building.

Mr. President, please. If you ask me, I am always proud to say that I came to party politics from the civil sphere. That's why I've seen for myself what it's like for an autocratic prime minister to see civilians as enemies. Because they have self-awareness, because they are self-organized, because they act for their community independently of power and party political battles. That's where my sense of vocation comes from. I've worked in the civil sphere to give a voice to people they don't want to hear. And now I work as a politician to voice the increasingly oppressed and silenced civilians. My fellow Members, the legislation guaranteeing the uniform rights of European civil society organisations is an important step towards the protection of civil society. It's important, but not enough. I therefore call on the European Parliament, the Commission and the European Council to include as many safeguards as possible in the legislation to protect the independence of civil society organisations. Civil society is the cornerstone of free society and democracy, liberal democracy, so it is our duty to protect it! Let us not allow the populist government of any Member State to threaten it. (The speaker is willing to answer a blue card question)

Mr. President, please. Over the past five years, I have presented countless times how the propaganda machine of the Hungarian government is built. For in Hungary we are no longer simply talking about government media predominance, but specifically about a Putin-type propaganda machine. A system that is spreading propaganda to the Hungarian public out of taxpayers' money, and the Commission has done nothing to counter this. My fellow Members, information is power, and Viktor Orbán knows it. If we want to compete with Europe's toxic populists, we must prevent the development of Putin's propaganda machine across Europe. That is why we need a European media law and the momentary proposals in it, so that it is not possible to hide how and with how much money the state supported the propaganda media within its remit, so that the direct funding of propaganda by the state becomes more difficult, and state money is distributed not on a political basis, but on a non-discriminatory basis. I therefore ask you to support this bill, thereby also improving the situation of freedom of the press in Hungary!

Madam President, I'm sorry. When the President of Hungary pardoned an accomplice of a pedophile, he took away the justice of the victims. Unfortunately, the story didn't end there. The pardoned deputy director, Endre K., put pressure on his former victim a few days ago, just as he did years ago, to force him to change his confession to lie. There's video footage of the former teacher using money and favors to get his victim to lie. The perpetrator has now committed the same crime as before, reopening the suffering of the victims. The former abused children of Bicske today are deeply traumatized young adults who still need protection and help. It is obvious that in Hungary not only child protection, but also victim protection bleeds from a thousand wounds and suffers from deficiencies. Not only is this completely unacceptable for the government of an EU Member State, but it also goes against all European fundamental values.

Mr. President, please. In recent weeks, Hungary has been shaken by a serious pedophile scandal. The president, who has since resigned, granted a presidential pardon to an accomplice of a pedophile. A man who blackmailed and persuaded children to deny sexual crimes committed against them. However, the pedophile scandal is only the tip of the iceberg. Terrible conditions prevail in Hungarian children's homes, and the state consciously does not do anything to improve the child protection system. We must do something at European level because, despite strong European child protection rules, Member States simply do not comply with them. Already in the Child Guarantee initiative adopted by Parliament in 2021, we have formulated a European child protection authority, the creation of a strong EU authority that could scrutinise Member States’ child protection systems and act if it were to experience gross shortcomings. I call on the European Parliament to do everything in its power to set up such a European child protection authority. Protect vulnerable children who are not protected. This is not only a human duty, but also a political duty.

Mr. President, please. Coming from Viktor Orbán's Hungary, I know exactly what it means when elections are neither fair nor clean. I know exactly what it's like when unpredictably and unstoppably, inevitably, the hatred of propaganda and politics pours onto us online, even breaking Youtube tales. That is why I am proud to have been a lead negotiator in the European Parliament in drafting legislation that makes online political advertising and the funding of online political advertising in Europe more transparent. It weakens the influence of the Russian and Chinese states in the European elections and prohibits the targeting of advertisements on the basis of sensitive personal data. Who and how we love, what we believe in, what our health status is, is a matter for us and is our personal business. If we don't want to share such sensitive data with politicians campaigning on the street, then why should we let algorithms tell this for us? As a politician, I have a duty to protect voters from political forces trying to manipulate and influence them online. Preventing this is also a condition for the fairness of the elections to the European Parliament, and I am therefore proud to have taken part in this work. Allow me to thank my fellow rapporteur Sandro Gozi and all the LIBE rapporteurs for their joint work.

Dear Mr President, Let us not deny that the economic and social problems in the European Union that led to the rise of populists are real. We must give real answers to these problems, because we know that populists do not have real answers. Instead, they use simple but immensely harmful means of disinformation and incitement to hatred. Therefore, the spread of disinformation and hate speech cannot be taken seriously enough. Nor can we take seriously enough the responsibility of giant tech companies in spreading lies and incitement to hatred. My fellow Members! We have a huge responsibility to draw the attention of our constituents to the fact that the protection of their data is the guarantee of their freedom of choice, and we also have a huge responsibility not to allow populists to undermine the value and protection of freedom of speech. We cannot allow them to hide behind such an important European value and incite hatred every day. I therefore call on you, European decision-makers, to be even stricter in regulating European and global tech giants. Do not allow these companies to tear European societies apart and profit from them.

Dear Madam President, Recently, it was revealed that Russian agents were able to enter the ranks of the European Parliament. Russia's involvement in European politics has become increasingly aggressive, and this year's European Parliament elections have also been targeted. There are many indications that there is often Russian money, Russian influence and political influence behind populists who are advancing in the EU. But it is much more dangerous than MEPs acting as Russian agents if entire Member State governments cooperate according to Russian interests. The government of Hungary regularly and regularly tries to enforce Russian interests in EU decision-making. Threatened with veto, blackmailed, bargained for the greatest pleasure of the Russians. I ask all EU decision-makers not to take lightly the Hungarian government's pro-Russian acquaintance. When we voted for Ukraine's support, it turned out that there is a way to prevent pro-Russian activity. Let us learn from this and act together against the populists who represent Russian interests.

Dear Mr President, Katalin Novák, the head of state of Hungary, granted a pardon to an accomplice of a pedophile criminal. For years, the director of a children's home in Hungary sexually abused the children entrusted to him. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, and his deputy knew all about his atrocities. Not only did he know everything, but he abused his power to force the children to bear false witness. And now it turns out that Katalin Novák granted mercy to this man, this man was released. If you're wondering how that's possible, I don't know the answer either. All we know is that he was also in contact with the brother of the Hungarian Prime Minister. It seems that family acquaintances deserve the protection of the system. As a politician, I strongly condemn the actions of the President of the Republic of Hungary. And as a mother, my stomach is filled with the fact that there are people who can turn a blind eye to crimes against children. It is simply incomprehensible that one of them is the President of the Republic of Hungary.

Dear Mr President, My fellow Members! 33 years after the fall of the Soviet Union, Hungary will once again be able to use intelligence tools to monitor those whom the regime regards as enemies. The Hungarian government recently established a so-called Office for the Protection of Sovereignty. This has no other task than to simply threaten and fear civil society organisations, political parties or individuals opposing the system. We have seen before what the Hungarian government can do when it comes to civilians. Hand-managed tax authorities are targeting associations engaged in charitable activities. As long as the government's propaganda is harassing the leaders of international human rights organizations. My fellow Members! I am pleased to see that the European Parliament is doing more and more to ensure transparency in the use of EU funds. But I ask you to listen to the voices of Hungarian civil society organisations and their cry for help, and to do everything possible to prevent them from being threatened by a new organisation using Russian-style intelligence tools.

Madam President, I'm sorry. One eye cries and the other laughs, because on the one hand it is good news that the Commission has finally recognised that further steps are needed to tackle European democracy, attacks from outside the EU. However, it is regrettable that this proposal does not protect democracy from attacks from within the Union. Yet European democracy has long been under attack from within the Union's borders. Anti-democratic powers are trying to gain influence through actors disguised as civilians and opaque corporate networks. Hiding the real financiers. I know, because as a Hungarian politician, this reality confronts me every day, and we live in this reality. Fellow Members, let us be courageous and, in defence of democracy, demand full transparency for all social and political actors in a united manner in all Member States. Not only in relation to attacks and money coming from outside the Union, but also from within it. In this way, we will be able to truly track and ultimately uncover who is behind the real actors that are threatening the EU's democracy.

Dear Mr President, fellow Members, Let us say that the greatest threat to European democracies today is the spread of false propaganda and disinformation on social media. The lies that are deliberately deceiving European citizens. I come from Hungary, where it is common for the government and its propaganda to knowingly lie, including about the European Union, to its citizens. It is also common for state-financed mouthpieces to spread Russian propaganda. The purpose of all these lies is the same: to create confusion, division and hatred, so that we no longer trust institutions, politicians and, worst of all, each other. That is why Europe needs to act boldly, decisively and hard, more forcefully against all lies and all lying information, and why we need to make social media platforms enforce the rules we have put in place to counter disinformation in their DSA regulation as strictly as possible. It is through them that lies are spreading most rapidly in Europe and even in the world today. Let's do a lot more for this.

Dear Commissioner, In addition to my support for the goal of using EU funds to increase the EU's industrial independence and competitiveness, we cannot ignore the fact that Hungary is currently being transformed into a battery colony by its own government. The government attracts a large part of Chinese companies into the country, which then cause more and more serious environmental pollution in a larger and larger area. I draw attention to this because the EU is just about to invest in digital and other critical technologies without taking environmental concerns seriously enough. I therefore ask the European Commission to do everything it can to protect our own environment, to do everything it can to protect Hungary's environment, because pollution knows no borders. This is why a European environmental authority should be set up as soon as possible to monitor, punish and, if necessary, close down polluting companies. Europe, including Hungary, needs strong European environmental protection in addition to strategic industrial reshoring. I ask that we act now before it is too late.

Madam President, I'm sorry. I come from a country where small business owners have little chance of growth without a political backwind. And if they do, they're sure to be approached by a pro-government oligarch with an irrevocable offer. I therefore very much welcome the Commission's plan to provide targeted support to European small and medium-sized enterprises. But there's a problem. We will accept this rescue package in vain if Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises will not see a penny of it. Because the EU has frozen the disbursement of funds due to the mistakes of the Hungarian government. My fellow Members! Hungarian businesses are not responsible for the mistakes of the Hungarian government, moreover, in the midst of the Hungarian economic crisis, they are incredibly in need of these subsidies. I therefore call on the Commission to make it possible for these subsidies to be channelled directly to them in a targeted way, bypassing the government. The EU should not punish Hungarian businesses for the crimes of the Hungarian government. Hungarian companies benefit from these subsidies in the same way as other European small and medium-sized enterprises.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Last week, the global warming record was broken three times in a row. We can literally feel on our skin how serious the problem is. But we are not just suffering the consequences of climate change. We, European decision-makers, have a responsibility to prevent floods and droughts that threaten food supply. We European decision-makers are responsible for saving Europe from the pollution of industrial emissions and the consequences of the climate catastrophe. That is why we cannot let the far-right, most recently together with the European People's Party, block the green transition's climate protection agenda, which is clearly supported by a large majority in the European Parliament. I therefore call on the Commission to be more determined and courageous in the fight against climate change. Don't let Europe get taken prisoner. Neither those who deny the reality of climate change, nor those who benefit from it.

Mr. President, please. Hungary and the Hungarian economy are plagued by serious crises and a government that is unable to manage these crises. As a result, we have already reached the point where the Hungarian middle class is in a serious crisis. Most families no longer have the money to go on vacation. That it's difficult for them to replace the old fridge or get the broken washing machine repaired. People who have never had a problem with everyday shopping are watching the sales. I therefore ask you, European decision-makers, not to make the same mistake that you made in dealing with the 2008 financial crisis. The economic decisions of the period ahead should not support the elite, but strengthen the income and quality of life of the European middle class. Because if the middle class weakens, European democracy weakens and populists advance. We can only build a strong Europe with a strong middle class.

Mr. President, please. The Hungarian government has long refused to comply with the European Union's rules of the game. This is causing serious damage to the entire Hungarian nation, as, as a result, no new EU funds have been coming to Hungary for almost a year now. You may have heard that student and teacher protests have been taking place in Hungary in recent months as a result of the government's anti-education policy. Hungarian education is in a serious crisis. The problem is such that, in my opinion, this already violates the right of Hungarian students to education, as set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the Commission cannot leave either. That is why I am now turning to the Commission and asking it to demand from the Hungarian Government, in exchange for EU money, the immediate abolition of the status law that enslaves teachers, a 50 per cent wage increase for teachers and the beginning of a comprehensive reform of Hungarian education, with the meaningful involvement of teachers and students. I ask the European Commission to link the payment of EU funds to the reform of Hungarian education beyond the existing rule of law conditions. Without EU funds, there is no future for the Hungarian economy. Without a solution to the crisis in Hungarian education, Hungary has no future. That is why I hope that, even if the Hungarian government is not interested in education and the future of Hungary, it will finally be willing to do something to stop the education crisis in order to bring EU funds home. However, let us add that the only obstacle to and cause of the repatriation of EU funds is the Hungarian government itself.

Madam President, I'm sorry. It is now time for the European Union to act as a strong, united great power to defend its core values. The Istanbul Convention is a clear stance against violence against women, which the EU has not been able to ratify in the last six years, also due to the blockade of the Hungarian government. Despite the fact that one in five women in Hungary has experienced some form of physical violence in their relationship. Of course, what can we expect from a government that attacks students protesting for their own future with batons and tear gas? The Union cannot align itself with governments that do not care about the safety of their own citizens. Above all, respecting the ruling of the European Court of Justice, we must vote for the approval of the Istanbul Convention at EU level, because the protection of European fundamental values is not a matter of choice. These are what make the Union one of the most important, one of the freest places for us, and this is how we can finally set an example for countries outside the Union.

Mr. President, please. I am pleased to see that the European Commission is also taking the fight against climate change and the continent's green transition increasingly seriously. But it must be pointed out again and again that the biggest obstacle to a much greener Europe is the activities of giant polluters. Therefore, the costs of the green transition should first and foremost be borne by them. In the form of direct taxes or direct contributions, as they are primarily responsible for this. That is, let ordinary people, European citizens, not pay the costs of the green transition. And the EU must provide even more support to those countries that are particularly hard hit economically by the transition, because only in this way, building on European solidarity, can we bring about a green Europe so that the European Union can become the first climate-neutral great power.

Mr. President, please. The Commission's latest Rule of Law Report makes it clear once again that the Hungarian government not only ignores the country-specific recommendations, but continues to use EU money to dismantle Hungarian democracy. Still, the Commission cannot allow the whip to hit the Hungarian people over and over again and withdraw EU funds from them because of the government's crimes, because the Hungarian government is taking advantage of this to further fuel anti-EU sentiments in Hungarian society, and we have seen this on several occasions where it leads. My fellow Members! We know exactly what stirring up the mood and the continuous Brusselisation can cause, so that Hungary will not be taken out of the European Union in the end! This would be a tragedy, but not only for Hungary, let us say: Also for Europe. It is no coincidence that we say with our group, Renew Europe, that EU money must be given directly to those who need it the most, by avoiding the Hungarian government. Hungarian municipalities, businesses and civil society organisations. Because it's the only way to ensure that these moneys aren't stolen and to avoid the Huxit.

Dear Madam President, If you look at your Facebook wall or turn on public media in Hungary today, you will most likely come across fake news, fake news about Russia defending itself, Ukrainian aggression or Nazi Ukrainians. How is this possible four months after the outbreak of war in an EU Member State? So far, EU measures have not been sufficient. Vladimir Putin is still able to promote his propaganda through far-right parties and social media. Despite the fact that we have banned several Russian media outlets from Ukraine and the EU, further steps are needed. Firstly, there is a need to make the links between European parties in Putin transparent. Secondly, we must ban Russian propaganda from social media. Thirdly, we need to strengthen EU cyber defence. Let us not allow Vladimir Putin to poison European minds in addition to destroying Ukraine.

Dear Mr President, Costs of living are rising enormously across Europe, and it is in such an exceptional situation that if a Member State's government decides to set an official price, it regulates, for example, the price of gasoline. In Hungary, the Hungarian government introduced the official price as part of the election campaign. However, the elections are already over and the government would be free of official prices because of the threat to security of supply. However, he does not dare to lead it out, because he is afraid that due to the high gasoline prices, the anger of the Hungarians will be on him, of course. What does the populist smeared with all the fat do in this situation? He resorts to tricks, prohibiting non-Hungarian citizens from buying gasoline at Hungarian gas stations at official prices. He does this in a way that he knows perfectly well that his action is contrary to EU law, since he could not differentiate between EU citizens. But that's exactly what it's all about. The government is eagerly waiting for the European Commission to take action against the official price, as this would allow it to point its finger at Brussels as the cause of all the bad things that they want to take away the official price. I therefore ask the Commission not to fall for this trick, not to give an excuse for another campaign against the EU, against the EU. This is now in the social interest of Hungarian society as well as in the political interest of the European Union.

Dear Madam President, Let me briefly respond to the rule of law policy of the European Union, as a Hungarian Member, before addressing my proposals for the report before us. The Hungarian people should not be punished for the sins of their government! An economic crisis is imminent, and Hungary is currently unable to access EU funds. Support should be withdrawn from the government, from the Hungarian government, not from Hungarian society, who are drifting day by day towards insecurity. The European Union must work to channel money directly to municipalities, civil society organisations and businesses. He must work to ensure that EU money is spent on schools, hospitals and jobs rather than on stones and lookouts, and he must work to ensure that EU money is used for the growth of a nation rather than for the enrichment of a small circle. Hungarians, like all other European nations, want security and legal certainty, predictability, peace and quiet. A country where they can feel safe and where they can go from one to two in a predictable way. A European country. This is currently only possible with the support of the European Union. The challenge facing the Union is therefore not small, the citizens of its Member State must not suffer financial disadvantages, but they must also ensure legal certainty. This can only be solved through tough and consistent negotiations, which in turn requires a clear factual basis. That is why I have made three proposals for the upcoming third Rule of Law Report. First, establish a clear link between the rule of law report and the rule of law mechanism, i.e. the withdrawal of EU funds. Second: introduce a rule of law index to assess the state of the rule of law in a given Member State. Finally, there should be a specific chapter on the situation of civil society, because most of the time the destruction of the rule of law begins with government action against them. I ask you to vote for the report with this in mind.