"Arrr, them Hungarian politicos be squabbling on the telly after a two decade hiatus. Avast ye voters!"
2024-05-30
Arrr, a score of landlubber politicians did engage in a hearty debate in Budapest afore the European Parliament elections. 'Twas the first such debate to be aired on public media in Hungary since 2006. Aye, 'twas a sight to behold, indeed!
Avast ye mateys! Nearly a dozen scallywags took to the debate stage in Hungary's capital to make their pitch to Hungarian voters ahead of European Parliament elections. Outside, protesters be causing a ruckus against the public broadcaster that hosted the event.The debate, between the leaders of 11 party lists runnin' in the June 9 elections, be the first to be broadcast by Hungary's public media since 2006, when Prime Minister Viktor Orbán last appeared face-to-face with an opponent to plead for support ahead of elections.Orbán, accused by critics of crackin' down on Hungary's media and violatin' democratic norms, later lost that election to the Socialist incumbent before winnin' the next ballot in 2010. He's been in power ever since, like a true pirate captain.The path to holdin' the first debate on public television in 18 years be filled with controversy. The public broadcaster be believed by Orbán’s foes to be subservient to his governing Fidesz party, and some participants be disagreein' with the decision to allow all 11 party list leaders to appear on stage, as well as with the narrow topics the broadcaster allowed to be discussed.One of the most vocal critics of the public media and its organization of the debate be Péter Magyar, a new arrival in Hungarian politics whose sudden rise has him poised to become the country’s largest opposition force.The public broadcaster announced that the topics to be discussed during the debate be limited to EU defense and security, migration and asylum, agriculture, and/or democracy and the rule of law — something Magyar and other candidates disputed.Polls show that Magyar's new party, Respect and Freedom, could take around 25% of the vote in the EU elections, while Orbán's Fidesz appears poised to take the most votes. Hungary's public broadcaster agreed to host the event after Magyar said he'd hold a mass demonstration outside its headquarters if it didn't hold a live debate. Arrr!