International financier George Soros has been meddling in Hungarian politics, domestic and foreign, for some time. (He has done and is increasingly doing the same thing worldwide in a number of other countries, which puts the issue in a much wider perspective, but the case in point is Hungary here.) Initially, he acted mainly in humanitarian disguise (grants, scolarships, other assistance), all with the same ultimate purpose, as it turned out: political influence. Then he finances various NGOs, or so called, involved in secretly and later openly in subversive political activities aimed ultimately at toppling the government. Finally, as an extreme globalist, who hates the nation and the national cause, he finds his best field of activities: the supporting and actively encouraging illegal migration from Africa and Asia, to weaken and break up the ethnic, cultural and political unity of the nation, seriously threatening the security of the people, and jeopardizing national sovereignty.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was the first in Europe to realize and fully understand the dangers back in 2015 and, as a responsible leader should, he acted responsibly and decidedly: on his initiative the government decided to build a fence along the Southern border of Hungary, and introduced other defensive mechanisms and measurements against uncontrolled mass immigration. We remember the vicious attacks Hungary received in the beginning from many European leaders, some of them influenced by Soros and his henchmen directly or indirectly. Most of these attacks and criticisms have gradually and partly subsided since, not least because more and more people realize that Orbán was right, and Hungary is defending not only itself but also much of the rest of Europe.
Then comes along a professor, by the name of Stephen Pogány (University of Warvick, Coventry, England) who apparently believes that the time is still not over for unjust, unfounded and mendacious attacks against Hungary, and especially Orbán and his government. In the face of what we described above, he has the audacity to write down the following. “It scarcely needs stating that there is not a scintilla of evidence (italics mine) to support the government's contention that Soros is motivated by a malicious desire to subvert 'European values' or to threaten the sovereignty or cultural integrity of nation states such as Hungary." (https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/07/orban-orwell-soros/)
Now, if the “not a scintilla of evidence” bit was halfway true (it is absolutely not, in fact, it is widely documented that the opposite is the case) then Hungarian self defense including the fence and the rejection of the proposed quota system (the obligatory acceptance of migrants) is not only unnecessary but unlawful according to European law, and therefore a criminal act, and Prime Minister Orbán is to be blamed.
So the blame needs to be corroborated somehow. How can you most effectively do this? Of course, by turning to the good old and always effective anti-semitism card: Soros is a Jew and „a country-wide poster campaign against Soros….made use…. of a vicious anti-Semitic trope much favoured by Germany's National Socialists in the 1930s.” This is totally made up by Pogány, and anyone having seen the posters in question, could only ask in awe: what on earth is this guy talking about? Further, „Soros is cast a malign, powerful and manipulative (Jewish) figure….” Almost true, except for the Jewish bit, which is never mentioned or referred to anywhere in the campaign, and is expressly Pogány's blatant invention. Generally speaking, we can safely sway that Hungary is not an anti-semitic country. We have one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. Jewish culture is flourishing in the country under Orbán's government, as it was happily noticed by Israeli Prime Minister Netanjahu, who expressed his appreciation on his recent visit to Budapest. He also said, incidentally, that he agreed with Hungary in how it judged Soros' international financial and political activities.
To be sure, Pogány also turns to other methods. At one point he talks about „the multiple and manifest failures of Fidesz” (Orbán's party) as if the party was not way ahead of everyone else in the polls, in the fourth year of the government term (the time that most governing parties lose popularity.)
Further, „The administration presided over by Prime Minister Orbán since 2010 has triumphantly succeeded in eroding democracy and the rule of law….” and so on in a similar fashion. The professor leaves us in the dark, however, as to why and how the people have since 2010 re-elected Orbán with a two thirds majority, in two consecutive elections?
Perhaps being aware of the shakiness of his argumentation (actually a fabrication and truthlessness, as we have seen) he goes back again and again to his concocted trump card or what he thinks as such. He repeats his imagined anti-semitic tropes (alleged references to Soros as Jewish.) But they do not exist, not on the posters, not anywhere in the rest of the „Soros campaign”, or in fact not in any government communication or any public writing for that matter; no hints, no slurs, no distastful remarks). Nonetheless, he likens the non-existing tropes to the Protokols of the Elders of Zion, known as the most outrageous example of international anti-Jewis propaganda. With this, professor Pogány writes himself out of the community of serious and responsible authors.
Dr. L. Pordany
former Ambassador
Then comes along a professor, by the name of Stephen Pogány (University of Warvick, Coventry, England) who apparently believes that the time is still not over for unjust, unfounded and mendacious attacks against Hungary, and especially Orbán and his government. In the face of what we described above, he has the audacity to write down the following. “It scarcely needs stating that there is not a scintilla of evidence (italics mine) to support the government's contention that Soros is motivated by a malicious desire to subvert 'European values' or to threaten the sovereignty or cultural integrity of nation states such as Hungary." (https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/07/orban-orwell-soros/)
Now, if the “not a scintilla of evidence” bit was halfway true (it is absolutely not, in fact, it is widely documented that the opposite is the case) then Hungarian self defense including the fence and the rejection of the proposed quota system (the obligatory acceptance of migrants) is not only unnecessary but unlawful according to European law, and therefore a criminal act, and Prime Minister Orbán is to be blamed.
So the blame needs to be corroborated somehow. How can you most effectively do this? Of course, by turning to the good old and always effective anti-semitism card: Soros is a Jew and „a country-wide poster campaign against Soros….made use…. of a vicious anti-Semitic trope much favoured by Germany's National Socialists in the 1930s.” This is totally made up by Pogány, and anyone having seen the posters in question, could only ask in awe: what on earth is this guy talking about? Further, „Soros is cast a malign, powerful and manipulative (Jewish) figure….” Almost true, except for the Jewish bit, which is never mentioned or referred to anywhere in the campaign, and is expressly Pogány's blatant invention. Generally speaking, we can safely sway that Hungary is not an anti-semitic country. We have one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. Jewish culture is flourishing in the country under Orbán's government, as it was happily noticed by Israeli Prime Minister Netanjahu, who expressed his appreciation on his recent visit to Budapest. He also said, incidentally, that he agreed with Hungary in how it judged Soros' international financial and political activities.
To be sure, Pogány also turns to other methods. At one point he talks about „the multiple and manifest failures of Fidesz” (Orbán's party) as if the party was not way ahead of everyone else in the polls, in the fourth year of the government term (the time that most governing parties lose popularity.)
Further, „The administration presided over by Prime Minister Orbán since 2010 has triumphantly succeeded in eroding democracy and the rule of law….” and so on in a similar fashion. The professor leaves us in the dark, however, as to why and how the people have since 2010 re-elected Orbán with a two thirds majority, in two consecutive elections?
Perhaps being aware of the shakiness of his argumentation (actually a fabrication and truthlessness, as we have seen) he goes back again and again to his concocted trump card or what he thinks as such. He repeats his imagined anti-semitic tropes (alleged references to Soros as Jewish.) But they do not exist, not on the posters, not anywhere in the rest of the „Soros campaign”, or in fact not in any government communication or any public writing for that matter; no hints, no slurs, no distastful remarks). Nonetheless, he likens the non-existing tropes to the Protokols of the Elders of Zion, known as the most outrageous example of international anti-Jewis propaganda. With this, professor Pogány writes himself out of the community of serious and responsible authors.
Dr. L. Pordany
former Ambassador