Hungarian Conservative

Time to Stop Appeasing Iran

‘Before a military operation is even conceivable, Washington and the EU Member States must abandon the so-called “good relations” with Iran. There is nothing good in a “relation” where the other side is going to profit from it, and thereby continue to sponsor terrorists. After all is said and done, then, perhaps we can discuss, or even assume, good relaions.’

The Fallen Soldier by Vasily Vereshchagin (c. 1878)

War Fatigue and the Tragedy of the Russian-Ukrainian War

According to estimates, in November Russia suffered over 900 casualties a day; thousands of Ukrainian civilians and more than 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the start of the invasion. It is clear that the cost of the war is becoming unbearably high.

President Katalin Novák with the relatives of the Hungarian–Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas, in Jerusalem, 5 November 2023.

Israel and Hungary: Two Nations United

‘Many Jewish citizens from European nations like Sweden are enduring levels of hostility that are non-existent in Hungary. In contrast, Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, the current Israeli ambassador to Hungary, earlier this year named Hungary as one of the safest nations for Jews to live in. Furthermore, the Jewish community in Hungary is not only thriving, but also one of the largest in Europe.’

A woman looks at flags bearing symbols and colours of Ukraine that commemorate fallen Ukrainian soldiers in Independence Square, Kyiv on 1 December 2023.

Time to Reassess the Ukrainian Strategy

‘Washington and the EU need to take an entirely different approach, one that may actually work, and that is facilitate a ceasefire. Convincing Zelensky to consider this does not necessarily mean that Ukraine is to give up on restoring its 1991 borders or on holding Putin’s government responsible for the death and destruction he has caused since invading the country.’

Cardinal Mindszenty delivering a radio speech after being freed from prison in 1956 in the Buda Castle.

József Mindszenty and the Revolution of 1956

Cardinal Mindszenty played an important role in the 1956 revolution. He assumed his post as archbishop immediately after his release from captivity, appealed for international aid for Hungary, initiated the process of cleaning the church from Communist infiltration, while also being active in the political life of the country. Firmly holding onto his conservative view of himself as the most important dignitary of Hungary, he tried to set the direction of the course of events. Contrary to the recent myth-busting efforts, this direction was not reactionary or outdated.

Leaders of the Polish liberal opposition parties (L-R) Szymon Holownia and Wladyslaw Kosiniak Kamysz of the Third Way party, Donald Tusk of the Civic Coalition, and Wlodzimierz Czarzasty and Robert Biedron of the Left party pose with the signed coalition deal at the Polish parliament in Warsaw on 10 November 2023.

Polish Elections Constitute a Setback to European Conservatives

‘Once the power transition issue subsides, revenge is likely to become a central issue in Polish politics. Among the presumed incoming government’s proposals are journalistic purges and political show-trials, precisely the sort of banana-republic behavior anti-PiS voices have long alleged on the part of the outgoing government.’

Debates about Hungary — Debates about Germany?

In general, the negative image of Hungary currently prevailing in Germany and Europe provides a summary explanatory model for why German conservatives have such reservations about Hungarian politics…When supporting Hungarian positions, German conservatives not only have to make significant discursive efforts, but sometimes also see the foundations of their own political projects as thereby threatened. The risk thus often seems too great for many.