Where Have All The Values Gone?
After a period of grace, the European Commission - under mounting pressure of NGOs and media-outlets - decided that someone has gone too far. The predictable reaction led to a pro-government mass-demonstration (with allegedly 100,000 participants) and the burning of EU-Flags. Not in Tehran, but in Budapest! Considering that only one year ago, Hungary held the rotating Presidency of the European Council, that’s a pretty bitter pill to swallow. For the first time in history, a Head of State appeared before the Plenary of the European Parliament and evokes a clash of cultures between a Pan-Continental Left and the last bastion of true European, Christian Values.
Did we, on this memorable Wednesday, January 18th, 2012, wittness the birth of a new transnational approach in politics? Or is it rather another sad chapter in a creeping process of de-legitimation of the whole EU? Allegations that Eurocrats are going to far, not only by determining the curvaciousness of cucumbers, have previously been voiced by a number of Member States (and citizens).
As important as newspapers are in being a watchdog, to me it seems that the whole issue was not being treated properly.
Why? Because it’s not about legal subtleties, but about values. And exactly here the ailing begins for those that are now reproaching Hungary for lack of political culture and democracy. Are intellectual and political elites of certain countries really summoned to spread the gospel of liberalism and plurality? When in the very same entities referenda of their very own electorate have been neglected? Not least the referenda concerning the „Constitution of Europe“, in 2005? The slogan “united in diversity” seems negligible and Merkel’s talks of “tolerance” has been forgotten.
Above that, I cannot help but think that small Member States are measured by different benchmarks and that some countries are being severely criticised - sometimes rightly so - while others have enough clout to avoid the “political pillory”. Why did Italy get a “carte blanche” from Europe’s political elites in relation to its far-right politician, while sanctions were imposed upon Austria even though Haider was not a member of government? Berlusconi has lifted his coons to very high political positions and has breached about every political parameter one can think of, but the reaction of his political partners was nil. Oncluding, it’s about time, that the EU determines political benchmarks, otherwise, it will soon appear as a schoolmaster that punishes certain students, while high-fiving with the bullies.
The mostly underrated blessing of the European Union is that it can/should- interfere in the affairs of its Member States. Nobody is disputing this claim in areas of competition law or security measures for employees. Moreover, sometimes it seems that in the case of a few countries membership is an insurance against falling back to “old times”. For young democracies, EU-membership might very well function as a stronghold against old elites. In other words: Brussels acts as a nosy but earnest schoolmaster protecting his pupils from totalitarian sirens.
For British Nationalists, or Austrians, for that matter, the Treaties of the European Union do allow for national peculiarities. This has been repeatedly stated by the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the European Court of Justice. In fact, national specificity is very much taken into account!
However, after 1945 and after 1989, a European Consensus has evolved that division of powers, basic human rights, freedom of speech and democracy are not merely optional but form the foundation of our self-perception. In that context, Orban’s government must be frowned upon critically: for in the FIDESZ party’s own self-perception those who don’t agree are being denounced automatically. Political competitors are casually regarded as “un-Hungarian”. This fact by itself defeats the meaning of plurality, precludes any attitude that is prone to tolerance.
Nevertheless, there’s this bitter-sweet sentiment of hypocrisy lingering in the anonymous aisles of various institutions. Why could Schroeder and Chirac vent their wrath on the former “Black-Blue” coalition in Austria (black representing the Austrian People’s Party, blue meaning the notorious Freedom Party), while casually dealing with the Front National or the Lega Nord? Schroeder lost elections, but no-one in the EU had the balls to stand up against Berlusconi. He, who had changed immunity-laws for his own purpose, he, who denounced the whole judiciary as “communists”. That‘s happening in a country, where wine bottles with Mussolini-stickers are all too common!
To make matters more complicated, the political opposition is not united. Some are calling on the EU to support the anti-Orban movement. On the other hand, there’s are plenty that ban interference in sovereign, domestic issues.
Europe is a political entity, each and every citizen has the discretion to develop their own opinion about Hungary. Globalisation is not only about economy and profits, it entails a “transnationalisation” of politics, as well. And that, vice versa, includes “EU-Politics” is in fact „domestic politics“. In turn, the “ordinary citizen” also needs to be convinced about this monumental project!
The EU must , however, make it clear that we cannot tolerate the drifting-off of any Member State into an anti-democratic demeanor, while being neutral by not favouring any type of democratically elected governments.
In this context it’s important to recall, that the “problem” is not “Hungary”, and that the problems, that Orban’s FIDESZ were so successfull in adressing, are not trumped up. EU-membership turned out to be a blessing only for the elite. A stroll through magnificent Budapest provides ample proof - the majority of Hungarians can’t afford fancy restaurants and bars. And most of the stores one sees while walking through the centre are internationally-owned chains, not your local retailer.
Yes, we as European Union should offer our help, perhaps even by putting positive pressure-incentives on Orban and FIDESZ. And the ultimate pressure is Art 7 of TFEU, the infringement procedure. Of course wisely used, in the name of common values, transparency, accountability and democracy. But never as a teacher from above the pulpit. Because in the end, we are all Europeans - through the good and the bad times!
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