Debate contributions by Gabriella GERZSENYI

Madam President, I'm sorry. The programme of the Cyprus Presidency is clear, the strength of the Union is the rule of law, legal certainty. This can be seen in the lives of ordinary people. A Hungarian farmer from Upper Hungary worked on the same land as his grandfather. It wasn't an investment, it was his life. Work, family, future. He always followed the rules. One day he received a letter that his land was no longer his according to a law seventy years ago. And when he raised his voice about how this could happen in Slovakia today, he learned that public criticism of the Beneš decrees could have criminal consequences. It's not history, it's the present. In 21st century Europe, it is unacceptable, there is no place for collective guilt, there is no place for fear instead of legal certainty. The priorities of the Cypriot Presidency also oblige us all to do so.

Madam President, I'm sorry. I'd like to refer to rule 150. The European Parliament often deals with violations of fundamental rights by the Hungarian government. We do not dispute the legitimacy of this, its usefulness from the point of view of Hungarians, but fundamental rights cannot be selective. The government of Viktor Orbán's friend Robert Fico deprives people of their land ownership on ethnic grounds. They refer to the more than 75-year-old Beneš decrees from the tragic post-World War II era. Families lose the land they have legally owned and inherited for decades without compensation because they were not their Slovak ancestors. On Thursday, the Slovak parliament passed legislation penalising criticism of the Beneš decrees. This is contrary to the rule of law in Europe. The European Parliament is credible if it measures Member States by the same standards. We therefore ask the House to investigate that matter and put it on the agenda without delay.

Dear Madam President, We need an EU strategy for equal opportunities, but we want less ideological debate and more concrete goals and results. Women should be valued. Opportunities for training and employment, equal pay and pensions. To promote work-life balance, to strengthen public participation and to provide effective protection against violence. This is important in Hungary, where the current government does not support women or families, unless it is necessary for campaign purposes. The goal of the Tisza is that Hungarian women should not have a chance in Vienna or London, but at last their own homeland. We believe that Hungary will be strong if Hungarian women are also strong.

Dear Mr President, We welcome the Commission's proposal to increase the role of local authorities and the minimum support rate for rural development. Hungarian patriot MPs point to others for failing to get the money to farmers and the Hungarian people. But I will help you, look at the pockets of Viktor Orbán and his friends. The present proposal is far from perfect, but the good news is that from April the new Tisza government will continue the negotiations and financial planning, and we will ensure that the money reaches the Hungarian people and the farmers, and we will achieve a demonstrable result in this field as well.

I didn't plan to ask the Congresswoman, because Fidesz representatives don't always answer our questions. However, now that he has literally mentioned the Tisza Party and other parliamentary groups, and blames them for the current proposal, he is saying that there is not enough funding for Hungarian farmers or Hungarian regions. I would like to ask what the Orbán government is doing to ensure that money is actually given to citizens and farmers instead of their own pockets. For the next 150 days, while you're still in government, what are you going to do about it?

Madam President, I'm sorry. I am delighted that young farmers will continue to be a priority in the 2026 budget, and that rural infrastructure, transport and health will be included in the proposal. The Committee on Regional Development pays particular attention to the development of lagging regions. The Hungarian government has abandoned the countryside, but from next April this will change. We cannot stand by and watch farmers abandon their professions and empty our villages because of their difficulties in making ends meet. We will support young farmers to make this profession attractive again. Both the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy must be decisive for the next seven-year period, so that rural and urban areas do not compete. The new Tisza government will take home EU money for Hungarians, and we will relaunch support for the countryside and agriculture left behind by the Orbán government.

Dear Mr President, Dear Commissioner, I am the mother of two wonderful adolescent children. They are raised in the same family and go to the same school. Still, it is known that my daughter will probably not start out with the same chances in life as my son. Many women work more than their peers, earning less, and are most often burdened with invisible, unpaid tasks: care of children, the elderly, the sick, housework. Hungary is in a worse position than the EU average. If a man gets 1000 forints for the job, a woman only gets 830 forints for the same. Equal opportunities for our children require a strong public and social background: crèches, kindergartens, flexible working arrangements, men who are also active at home. Viktor Orbán has long said that he does not deal with women's affairs. And there is not a single woman in the Hungarian government today. TISZA will also change this from next April. We give women equal opportunities and respect.

Dear Madam President, Dear Vice-President, There is a man in Hungary whose family and friends live in castles worth billions, keep zebras and rock luxury yachts at sea in the summer. This man is called: Viktor Orban. Meanwhile, nearly a third of the Hungarian population, three million people, live in housing poverty. Not only for home, but also for rent. The country is becoming depopulated, young people do not dare to have children, they leave the country by the thousands. Housing is also unaffordable for the elderly. Do you know how many 60 sqm flats could be built from the estate of the Orbán family? 300 of them. It would be possible to create homes for 300 families, but no homes will be built, because the construction industry is also dominated by companies close to the government, and it is not possible to steal enough from housing construction. On behalf of the Hungarian people, I also welcome the work of the European Commission and the European Parliament in the field of housing. The Tisza government will bring EU funds home after April 2026. With these, as well as with public and private capital, we are launching a rental housing program, making investments in energy and heating modernisation. We give everyone the chance to have affordable housing.

Dear Madam President, Dear Commissioner, Dear fellow Members, When I was a child, I experienced what it was like to be part of a nation in a region outside the borders of the country. As a Transcarpathian Hungarian, I saw the challenges to be faced, but also the strength that the common language, culture and cohesion give to the national community. The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) on national regions was signed by 1.4 million EU citizens. This is the first step to success. I agree with the signatories and the principles. The main objective of cohesion policy is to tackle regional disparities, thereby achieving "leaving no one behind".’ principle. Looking at the initiative, I see that proper legal recognition of national regions can provide a good opportunity for this. I believe that cohesion policy can strengthen the diversity of national regions and develop their cultural and linguistic characteristics. EU funding should be used locally to strengthen community cohesion. National regions are no exception to this. They should have equal access to EU funds.

Dear Madam President, Dear Commissioner, Recently, I hosted a group of visitors in the European Parliament in Brussels, consisting of disabled, visually impaired, slightly mentally handicapped and autistic people. This meeting confirmed that these people are not passive recipients, they have the right to self-determination and community participation. A real care society should serve this purpose, not the automatic maintenance of institutions. Unfortunately, the reality is different. The European Court of Human Rights recently ordered the Hungarian state to pay ten thousand euros in damages for institutional circumstances. The Orbán government is also abusing EU funds to the detriment of people with disabilities. At the same time, there are cases where the person concerned is not able to decide on his or her own life, which is why there is a need for human-centred, small-scale, worthy institutions. The rights of home caregivers need special recognition, and the Tisza Party works for personalized, locally available services, myself as vice-president of the Committee on Regional Development...

I am very pleased that the Congresswoman is so pleased to accept this question from me. If we didn't know that we were in a debate about Spain, and if we hadn't heard you speak Spanish, we might have thought that you were talking about Hungary, because there are scandals about the corruption of the Orbán government on a daily basis. So we would be very interested to know why they raise this problem with other countries, why they notice the anomaly in other countries, and not sweep and clean things up in their own house?

Dear Madam President, The current Hungarian prime minister is trying to create the appearance of the rule of law, while leaving citizens to themselves, fattening their oligarchs and bringing corruption to the top. The lack of rule of law conditions is one of the main reasons for freezing EU funds. The Tisza will get to the government and will give the Hungarian citizens the money due to them. We will ensure decent transport, housing, health care, high-quality education, a strong and competitive economy so that young people remain in our country and vulnerable social groups can be full members of our society. To make the financial security of the elderly, equal opportunities for women, accessible transport and independent living for people with disabilities a reality, so that everything is given attention and resources, because these are also part of the rule of law.

Dear Member, I would like you not to repeat a propaganda message now, but to give me a real answer to my question. Why are they pointing at others when it comes to EU funds? Why is the Orbán government idle when Hungary and the Hungarian people are losing thousands of billions of EU funds? Why are power and wealth important to you, and how can you call the rule of law a country where the prime minister and members of the government do not represent the interests of citizens?

Dear Madam President, In May, the Tisza community took a million steps from Budapest to Oradea. During the trip, we experienced the great gap between the rural regions of Hungary. Emigration, depopulation and the lack of a young, skilled workforce are causing enormous competitive disadvantages. Meanwhile, the EU is lacking billions of dollars from which normal transport links could be established. Rural development is one of the main goals of cohesion policy: to leave no one behind. I am pleased that the report draws attention to tackling demographic challenges and regional disparities, vulnerable social groups, especially women, people with disabilities. It is a special pleasure from the Hungarian point of view – thank you for the rapporteur’s work – to stress the need to provide more direct EU funds to local and regional authorities. Unfortunately, the Hungarian government is abandoning the countryside. However, the Tisza, once in government, will bring home the EU funds due to the people and will implement real developments in the countryside as well.

Dear Mr President, Two years have passed since the PEGA report, and unfortunately we Hungarians know exactly why this investigation was necessary. The current governing party, Fidesz, abused the Pegasus software. Journalists and opposition politicians were observed citing national security. In fact, they were defending their power, not the state and not the Hungarians. Now the same system has reached a new level. In recent days, leaked databases and hacking attacks, reported by the current prime minister himself, have made it clear: the Tisza community is targeted with digital tools for intimidation purposes. This is the introduction of Russian methods in Hungary. The concept of the Fight Club, built by Fidesz, and the data collections targeting volunteers follow the logic of Russian secret service psychological operations. They can no longer only observe politicians and journalists, but also activists and civilians. Tisza does not disclose any sensitive data to third parties, it works with the safest method in compliance with all laws. But it is clear that Viktor Orbán is in panic and would use any weapon to keep his power. We therefore support the recommendations of the PEGA Committee. Strong rules are needed, because state security cannot be an excuse to dismantle democracy. Power cannot play with the tools of fear. The Tisza is working for a new, rule of law Hungary.

I would like to ask the Honourable Member, if he is already making statements that you and the government know very well are not true – and everyone in this house knows that it is not true because the money does not arrive in Hungary because the government is corrupt and anti-democratic – then why does the government not, for example, submit a request for payment on the basis of the recovery fund? Why are they going to let this money go? Because the deadline, August 2026, is very close. And why is the government discriminating against opposition-led Budapest by not even publishing tenders for which the money is not even frozen?

Dear Madam President, In 1956, the last cry for help of the Hungarian freedom fighters reached the free world through Radio Free Europe. It was SOS, a desperate message against Soviet aggression. This radio was, and still is, the voice of freedom. That's why it's worrying that his very existence is in jeopardy because America is withdrawing its support. The Hungarian government can be pleased with this, as its main goal is to silence the independent press. On the example of Hungary, we can see what this logic can do: Fidesz propaganda completely dominates the domestic media, spreading lies, inciting fear, and using more absurd laws to stop the growing opposition, to whom they leave no room in the media. At Tisza, however, we believe that the free press is the foundation of any democracy, and Viktor Orbán will be forced to acknowledge this at the latest in 2026, when Tisza comes to government.

I would like to ask the Member why the Orbán government applies double standards when it comes to foreign subsidies. Why is it acceptable for the Heritage Foundation, for example, to support your fellow group members in maintaining close links with this organisation? Why is it acceptable that there is Russian and Chinese influence in the country, and meanwhile they want to silence the independent free press and withdraw all support from them?

Dear Madam President, Is Quo Vadis? Where is Cohesion Policy heading? The challenges of the Union justify overcoming inequalities, more than ever. This is the guarantee of Europe's security. We're stronger together. It is necessary to strengthen local and regional actors, involve stakeholders, partnership. Simplification, easier implementation, efficient and proper use of money. It is important that investments are used locally and that beneficiaries can enjoy all the benefits. Let us leave no area and no person behind, not the elderly, not women, not Roma, not people with disabilities. Tisza is working to rectify perhaps the biggest crime of the Orbán government, the deprivation of the country from a significant part of cohesion funds. Once in government, we will bring EU funds home, lead Hungary back on the path of a developing economy free from corruption and the rule of law, and I thank the Commission for its cooperation.

Dear Mr President, It is pleased that cohesion policy is included in the report as one of the pillars of the budget. It is important that the amount allocated to cohesion policy is not reduced and that the long-term objectives of cohesion policy are not lost sight of. It is important to fully implement the principle of "leave no one behind". It is also gratifying that the report mentions direct EU sources that are particularly important for Hungarians. Thank you very much for that! Unfortunately, today Hungary does not receive a significant part of EU funds. In particular, the government penalises opposition-led settlements, thereby depriving hundreds of thousands of Hungarians of quality services, health care and high-quality education. The Tisza party is doing everything it can to bring cohesion funds home and create a livable Hungary from 2026 onwards.

Mr. President, please. Hundreds of thousands of Hungarian families are cold in their own homes, and some are freezing in winter. Viktor Orbán shows himself to be at the forefront of competitiveness, while neglecting the development of infrastructure. Hungary imports more electricity than Germany. Industrial consumers are paying the fifth highest electricity bill in the European Union. They are building huge power-intensive Chinese battery factories in the country and are not reducing dependence on Russian fossil sources. I note that from now on they may switch to American sources, because we know that Orbán is friends not only with Putin, but also with Trump. At the Tisza Party, we are working to ensure the warmth of the home for all Hungarians through diversification, energy efficiency and better utilization of renewables such as geothermal energy.

Dear Mr President, A camel is a good animal, but we don't want to use it as a means of transport. Due to climate change, desertification is also a growing problem in Hungary. The Danube-Tisza Sand Ridge is about 10% of Hungary's territory, and according to the UN it is now officially a semi-desert. This is a symbol of government inaction. Yields are declining, livelihoods are becoming more difficult, sandstorms are occurring, lakes are drying up and habitats are disappearing. And it is not only an environmental crisis, but also a social and economic one, as food supply is at risk and the countryside is depopulated. For two decades, a scientific study and a program have been carried out to address this problem. The then government accepted, but the Fidesz government deliberately ignores the warnings of experts, neglects water management and soil protection, and instead spends hundreds of billions on prestigious investments, such as stadiums. The key to the solution is EU, national and local cooperation. We believe that there is a need for a comprehensive strategy at European level to support sustainable land use and water retention technologies. Tisza is Hungary's most popular party. Once we're in government, we're going to re-establish an independent Ministry of the Environment. We will focus on soil protection and water management, channel European funds to affected communities and support farmers in this fight as well.

Madam President, I'm sorry. A series of catastrophes is rocking Europe. I would also like to express our solidarity with all those involved. Hungary is also often affected by natural events. In September, the biggest flood of the decade crossed the Danube. It is important that cohesion funds are used appropriately also in crisis situations and that those affected have access to these funds as soon as possible. We support the so-called RESTORE proposal, through which EU funds can be used more flexibly not only for reconstruction, but also for food, essential goods and short-term job opportunities. The name of our party, Tisza, is the name of Hungary's second largest river. At the same time, we believe that a systemic solution is needed to deal with floods. On the other hand, it is important for cohesion funds to maintain their long-term original objectives, and the funds must really reach the local level to the people to whom they are owed, and our party, the Tisza Party, is committed to this.

Dear Mr President, The floods that hit Eastern and Central Europe in September caused the suffering and death of many people. I live on an island, not far from Budapest, in the middle of the Danube, so I personally had the opportunity to experience what it's like when water comes from all directions. I have experienced how much the cooperation, the joint work of the local population and the volunteers of the TISZA Party help, how important security is, that the dams are strong and high, that EU funds for investments reach the local level, the people who are entitled to them. According to the TISZA Party, the central distribution of funds is unfortunate, especially if, due to the undemocratic system and the corruption of the government, these funds disappear or do not arrive. According to a recent Commission report, funds may not reach underdeveloped areas. This poses a serious risk to the success of EU support policy. According to the report of the European Court of Auditors, centralised management is also insufficient. It would therefore be advisable to find mid-level players and to increase the decision-making power and financial independence of regions and municipalities. The TISZA Party is also working to achieve this in the European Parliament, so that Hungary can return to its rightful place in Europe.