Press release from the Canadian-Hungarian Democratic Charter
A new global civil-rights advocacy group – the Canadian-Hungarian Democratic Charter (CHDC) – based in Montreal, Canada, issued a worldwide indictment against the government of Hungary, which is a member of the European Union and NATO. Compiled by an international team of respected academics, headed by Concordia University political scientist, András B. Göllner, the indictment accuses the Hungarian government before the international court of public opinion of willful civil and human rights abuses. Consisting of 10 separate sections, and backed up by a wealth of verifiable evidence, the document is the first comprehensive English-language account of the Orbán government’s assault on universally respected democratic principles. The indictment claims, that the autocratic actions of the Orbán government undermine not only the economic and political stability of Hungary but Europe’s, as well and may produce harmful side effects as far away as North America.
The indictment points out that Orbán is the first EU leader, to cross the line separating democratic governance from autocratic rule. The CHDC echoes the alarm raised by such internationally reputable anti-communist crusaders as Vaclav Havel, the first President of the democratic Czech republic, or Adam Michnik, one of the most respected leaders of the Polish Solidarnos movement, who, along with hundreds of well known Hungarian anti-communist activists, sent an impassioned appeal earlier this year to leaders of the European Union:
Just 20 years after communism collapsed, Hungary’s government, though elected democratically, is misusing its legislative majority to methodically dismantle democracy’s checks and balances, to remove constitutional constraints, and to subordinate to the will of the ruling party all branches of power, independent institutions and the media.
(www.iprotest.hu)
The situation since then has gotten much worse. The authors of the indictment emphasize, that their criticism is not directed against the people or the nation of Hungary and reject the crude attempts of Hungarian authorities to stigmatize all their opponents as anti-Hungarian.
Our indictment is not against the people of Hungary, but against the country’s unscrupulous and self-serving rulers, who are showing little regard for universal democratic principles and who, as a consequence, threaten not only Hungary’s but Europe’s peace and stability. We ask everyone who holds the basic principles of democracy sacred, to visit our website, www.hungariancharter.com, and join forces with us by signing our petition.
According to the latest studies, more than 50 democracies around the world are on the verge of a “democracy meltdown” due to the failure of governments to respect the fundamental principles of democratic sustainability. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary became the first member of the European Union, to join this “club” where democracy is now an endangered species.
The Orbán government was elected to office in May, 2010 with a large majority, promising to provide a million new jobs, and economic prosperity to Hungary’s long suffering populace. The preceding socialist-liberal coalition government, which was in power during the previous eight years, had clearly lost the confidence of the people due to its own political shortcomings and inability to master Hungary’s increasingly difficult economic challenges. Instead of implementing badly needed reforms, the Orbán government opted for a bizarre mix of predatory economic policies, which penalise the less fortunate and those who can offer little resistance to governmental excess. Instead of strengthening the country’s democratic foundations and providing a broader base for reasonable debate and discourse, the government has ruthlessly silenced dissent against its misguided policies. As a consequence of these predatory actions, Hungary’s economic and political stability has been seriously compromised. The Canadian-Hungarian Democratic Charter’s spokespersons declare that:
The the failure to respect universally valid democratic principles has an impact far beyond the borders of Hungary. The virus of autocracy does not recognize international borders and is capable of setting off an international pandemic. Tolerance of rogue governments, such as Orbán’s, within the confines of the European Union, will simply demonstrate to other would be autocrats, that the road is open towards autocracy in Europe and the rest of the world. We must not allow this to happen.
The Canadian – Hungarian Democratic Charter is a non-partisan, global, civil rights advocacy group, based in Montreal, Canada. It is not affiliated with any political party. It was launched on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Hungarian people’s heroic uprising against communist tyranny. According to its founders:
The initiative is a salute and tribute to the example and sacrifices that Hungarians have made to promote and uphold universally valid democratic principles. We hope, our efforts will help the citizens of Hungary to once again enjoy the fruits of their past and current sacrifices. We are committed to helping them to regain the respect their country may have suffered as a consequence of the self-serving, predatory actions of their current leaders. Our efforts are undertaken in solidarity with the friends of democracy wherever they may be.
(Hat tip: Karl Pfeifer)
