SZEMA

Free Persons for Hungary (SZEMA)

The economic crisis and the political elite’s loss of credibility in Hungary have opened the way to envy, hostilities, and violence. It has become common to break the law without a second thought, to see members of a prohibited organization march the streets in uniform, and to hear daily that people were beaten up because of their race or faith. There is not a single social, political or institutional actor that can halt these literally life-threatening processes by authentic and consistent political action.

The majority are paralyzed by fear and keep silent. What they want, instead of living in fear, is to live in peace without hostilities and hate. . They are waiting for an adequate response.

We stand up for the principles and practice of responsible freedom. There must be a party in this country that puts responsibly enjoyed freedom and the equality of rights and opportunities first.

Rule of Law

Hungary has a constitution and a system of democratic institutions. Our laws forbid all forms of negative discrimination. We have policies that prescribe us to help the disadvantaged. These principles, however, do not inform everyday practice. Public institutions that actually reduce inequalities, NGOs that are allowed to work for the equality of chances are a rarity. On the other hand, organisations that mobilise hate and demand the “right” to take the law into their own hands continue their activities undisturbed either because of inadequate legal sanctions for such behaviour or because our jurisdiction fails to effectively proceed against them.

Freedom is limited by the freedom of others. Everybody is bound to keep to the law even when it works against their interests. We expect uniformity decisions from the Supreme Court on the application of those laws in the civil code that would allow prosecuting the incitement of hatred. We want to prevent the reestablishment of any organisation previously prohibited by the court, and we want the police to act consistently and with uniform rigour in all parts of the country.

A Country That Works

We want to live in a country that works well, and we know this requires a transparent and accountable state. Since state organisations are maintained by taxation, their activities must be public. Whoever performs public functions must do so to the best of their knowledge in the service of all citizens.

Hungary is in a particular economic situation. Indebtedness, international duties and the high rate of national income redistribution limit the maneuvering space for state action. Neither the neoliberal doctrine, nor populist rhetoric is of any help. Growing unemployment is the country’s most severe problem. The blame cannot be put solely on the global economic crisis, for the employment crisis has been with us for the past two decades. It strikes the uneducated and the inhabitants of villages the worst, but the number of unemployed university graduates is also on the rise, due to the unmarketable degrees they have received in our system of higher education. At the same time, there are countless occupations whose vacancies cannot be filled.

The present Hungarian systems of education, employment, social security and health perform very poorly. Well-functioning public institutions strengthen individuals, communities and enterprises; they support those in need. Good education provides knowledge and develops skills; with good health care fewer people become ill and their recovery is independent of where they live. A deficient system of state and municipal public services wastes the material and human resources of the country. This has to be changed.

Instead of the public work programs that squander several billions of forints a year, the creative energies of individuals and communities have to be mobilised. People should not be threatened but encouraged; the social responsibility of enterprises should be mobilised to raise the level of employment, make villages habitable and open new prospects for agricultural production.

We want our country to have a market economy that warrants the conditions of fair competition, allowing more and more people both to participate and to re-start after an eventual failure. Consumers must not be left at the mercy of the market. Very strong consumer protection measures are needed.

The distribution of European support funds should not depend on the lobbying strength of the various interest groups but on a consideration of the needs of the country as a whole. Otherwise the inflow of funds will only increase inequalities and exclusion while enriching the privileged.

One of the murkiest non-transparent areas of Hungarian public life is that of political party financing, where regulation combines well-intentioned but inadequate measures with loopholes purposely created to avoid public scrutiny. The result is a general withdrawal of legitimacy from the political parties.

Our Political Mission

We want to defend and represent those whose human dignity and survival are under threat, those whose freedom is restricted by the state or, unlawfully, by other citizens,. Freedom also implies that a growing number of people should be able to avail themselves of the freedom to shape their lives, of opportunities of physical and social mobility, education, healthy lives and meaningful work.

Our politics aims to defend the rule of law and make its institutions work appropriately. As responsibly and freely thinking persons we must do all in our might not to let those be the winners for political power who go the farthest in preaching and practicing social exclusion.

We are convinced that Hungary needs a new party to represent the idea of freedom.

August 2009