by Paul Lendvai
Lenin, Vladimir, 3
Leone, Sergio, 39
‘Let’s Stop Brussels’, 214–15, 226
Lévai, Anikó, 50–51, 168, 222
Lex Szapáry (2010), 105
Liberal International, 26
Liberal Party of Hungary, 240
Liberal Party of Canada, 211
Libya, 15
‘lie speech’ (2006), 65–72, 73, 75, 81, 229, 237
living standards, 41, 77, 184–5
LMP (Lehet Más a Politika), 86, 129, 131, 240–41
Lokál, 156
Los Angeles, United States, 157
Lukashenko, Alexander, 10
Lüthy, Herbert, 2
Luxembourg, 113, 116
Macedonia, 210
Macron, Emmanuel, 216
Madzsar, József, 234
‘mafia state’, 91–2, 217, 229
Magas, István, 245
‘magical thought’, 111
Magyar, Bálint, 91–2, 237
Magyar Broadcasting Co. Kft., 158
Magyar conquest (896), 7, 10, 94, 112
Magyar Demokrata Fórum (MDF), 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 43, 57, 85, 209
Magyar Hitelbank, 235
Magyar Idők, 144, 162
Magyar Igazság és Élet Pártja (MIÉP), 43, 48, 49
Magyar Narancs, 146, 148, 179, 192, 213, 225, 247
Magyar Nemzet, 54, 68, 75, 120, 127, 147, 160, 174
Magyar Szocialista Párt (MSzP), see Socialist Party
Magyar Televizio (MTV), 115, 118, 226
Malta, 205, 225
Manifesto of National Cooperation (2010), 87–8
Martens, Wilfried, 83–4
Marx, Karl, 2
Matolcsy, György, 108, 147, 150, 152–4, 162, 180–81
May Day, 171
Mayer, Gregor, 140
Medgyessy, Péter, 49, 54–7, 59–60, 74
media law, 105, 114–20, 123
Media Services and Support Trust Fund, 115, 119
Médiapiac, 245
Mediaworks, 161, 162
Mellár, Tamás, 184, 185
Memento, 186
Ménesi Street, Budapest, 18
Merkel, Angela, 119, 137, 140, 197–205, 220, 224, 236
Mesterházy, Attila, 132, 241
Mészáros, Lőrinc, 162, 165, 167–72, 175, 228, 244
MET Hungary Zrt., 171, 226
Metropol, 156
Mezőkövesd, 46
Michalski, Krzysztof, 33
Michnik, Adam, 221
migrant quota referendum (2016), 193, 218
Mihancsik, Zsófia, 30
Mijatović, Dunja, 115
Mikola, István, 90
military service, 16–17
Millenáris Park, Budapest, 50, 51
minimum wage, 47, 55, 175
Ministry for Development, 146
Ministry for International Development, 155
Ministry for National Development, 155
Ministry of Finance, 40–41, 54, 150
MM, 167
Modern Media Group, 156
Mohács, battle of (1526), 112
Momentum, 218, 230
Mongol invasion (1241), 112
Mossad, 191
Movement for a Modern Hungary, 226
Mozgó Világ, 179
MTI (Magyar Távirati Iroda), 115, 160, 223
MTV, see Magyar Televizio
Müller, Jan-Werner, 106, 200, 213
Museum of Fine Arts, 7, 157
Mussolini, Benito, 187
MVM Partner Zrt., 171, 226
Nagy, Imre, 5, 7
Napi.hu, 172
Năstase, Adrian, 48
National Bank, 40, 46, 97, 107–8, 116, 127, 152–5, 158, 162, 180, 238
National Judiciary Office, 104
national liberation struggle, 122, 125, 161
National Museum, Budapest, 45, 114, 203
national question, 37, 42, 88–90
National Tax and Customs Administration, 136, 224
National Tobacco Shops, 138
‘nationalisation of politics’, 177
nationalism, 29, 34, 37, 42, 51, 111–13, 121–5
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), 222
natural gas, 171, 226
Navracsics, Tibor, 137, 150, 241
Nazarbayev, Nursultan, 10
Nazi Germany (1933–45), 6, 37, 48, 102, 238
Nemes Jeles, László, 158
Németh, Lászlóné, 241
Németh, Miklós, 22
Németh, Szilard, 210
Népszabadság, 120, 161–3, 167, 175, 236
Netanyahu, Benjamin, 230, 249
Netherlands, 184
‘new land grab’, 10
NGO (non-governmental organisations), 48, 172, 210–11, 213, 214, 215, 218, 225
NHB (Növekedési Hitel Bank), 153
Nineteen Eighty-Four (Orwell), 207
NK Osijek, 168
North Korea, 130
nuclear power, 223–4, 226
Obama, Barack, 223
October uprising (1956), 3, 4, 6–8, 16, 71, 111, 112, 189, 236
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), 173
Oggersheim, Germany, 202
oligarchs, 115, 118, 119, 136, 146–9, 155–63, 165–75
Olympic Games, 186, 218
ombudsman, 97
Once Upon a Time in the West, 39
Open Society Foundation, 23, 208, 210
Opimus Group, 162
Oppermann, Thomas, 198
Orbán, Áron, 15, 228
Orbán, Győző, 12, 228
Orbán, Győző Bálint, 13, 15, 28, 47, 166, 228
Orbán, Mihály, 12, 15
Orbán, Ráhel, 168
Orbán, Viktor
1963 birth, 11
1973 moves to Felcsút, 12–13
1977 moves to Székesfehérvár, 14
1981 begins military service, 16
1982 father moves to Libya, 15; approached by secret service, 17
1983 foundation of Bibó István Special College, 17
1984 elected chairman of Bibó College executive committee, 18
1988 foundation of Fidesz, 21–2
1989 Round Table Talks, 22; remarks on Gyurcsány, 58; Heroes’ Square speech, 8, 22, 141, 221; begins research project at Oxford, 23
1990 returns to Hungary; parliamentary election, 23–4
1992 speech on liberalism, 26–7; remark on Smallholders’ Party, 43; meeting with Catholic Bishops Conference, 51
1993 hosts Liberal International congress, 26; voted first president of Fidesz, 26; IWM speech, 33–4; Fodor quits Fidesz, 29–30
1994 parliamentary election, 31, 33, 74; Haraszti adjusts tie, 29; Magyar Nemzet attack on Pokorni, 75
resignation of Fidesz leadership; party congress, 34; interview on Antall, 34–5; ‘what belongs together is growing together’ quip, 37
1995 party congress, shift to right, 36–7
1997 Franz Liszt Academy speech, 42; wedding with Anikó Lévai, 51
1998 Fidesz congress speech, 42; parliamentary election; formation of coalition government, 9, 33, 42, 43; visit to Vatican, 51
1999 Göttweig Abbey speech, 45, 83; Simicska resigns as head of APEH, 46; details of father’s quarry acquisition, 47, 166; remark on wife’s vineyard, 166
2000 1000th anniversary of Stephen’s coronation, 45; visits from Kohl and Schüssel, 84
2001 hand kissing incident in Mezőkövesd, 46; reversal of budgetary policy, 47; agreement with Romania, 48–9
2002 accusations of rape, 143; parliamentary election, 9, 49–50, 51–2, 74, 114, 143
2006 parliamentary election, 9, 60–63, 74; Gyurcsány’s ‘lie speech’, 67, 68; Kossuth Square protests, 70; local elections, 70
2007 Magyar Nemzet attack on Schmidt, 75, 236; Advent celebration in Kaposvár, 52
2008 fees abolition referendum, 76
2009 resignation of Gyurcsány, 79; Bajnai becomes prime minis
ter, 80; statement on ‘nation beyond national borders’, 89; attends United Russia congress, 223
2010 visit to Belgium, 83; parliamentary election, 9, 11, 83, 85–7; Manifesto of
National Cooperation, 87, 90; Stumpf appointed constitutional judge, 103; Schmitt elected president, 95; Szapáry appointed US ambassador, 105; media law adopted, 105, 114–20
2011 comments on two-thirds law, 93; Fundamental Law of Hungary adopted, 101
2012 Fundamental Law of Hungary comes into force, 99, 101; European Parliament speech, 123; Schmitt’s doctoral thesis scandal, 96; Áder elected president, 75, 96; ‘dance of the peacock’ speech, 116, 239; release of Safarov, 222
2013 Fundamental Law of Hungary signed into law, 96; Bibó College speech, 142–4; Wall Street Journal interview, 144; Tiborcz marries Ráhel, 168
2014 parliamentary election, 9, 127–33; Simicska disagrees with plans for future, 146, 227; avowal of illiberal democracy, 29, 140–41, 161, 194, 220–21; meeting with Fischer, 74; Internet tax protests, 135–6, 186; ‘day of general outrage’, 136–7; remarks on strong leadership, 144
2015 Charlie Hebdo solidarity demonstration, 194–5; visit from Merkel, 137; visit from Putin, 137, 224, 225; split with Simicska, 135, 145–8, 150, 151; collapse of Buda Cash, Hungaria and Quaestor, 138–9; refugee crisis, 192, 201; speech to CSU in Bavaria, 197; attacks Soros, 208
2016 National Bank scandal breaks, 154; Vona demands investigation of finances, 165–6; Szigetvári’s allegation on finances, 166; abolition of Sunday opening ban, 186; closure of Népszabadság, 162; migrant quota referendum, 193, 218; pledges to displace Soros’ organisations, 210
2017 visit from Putin, 225; cancellation of Olympic bid, 186, 218; asylum seekers detained, 213–14; anti-EU campaign, 214–15, 226; anti-CEU law, 211–12, 218; Simicska reveals details of post-election meeting, 228; accusations of corruption and Russian blackmail, 228–9
ORF (Österreichischer Rundfunk), 6–8, 69, 122, 190–91, 209
Origo, 158
Orwell, George, 207
OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe), 105, 115, 128
Öszöd, 66
OTP Bank, 166, 184
Ottoman Empire (1299–1922), 112, 114, 173
‘over-the-border’ citizens, 89–90, 130, 237, 241
Oxford University, 23
Paks, 223
Palace of Arts, Budapest, 7
Panama Papers, 174, 245
Pápa, 58
Paris, Rainer, 19
Parliament Building, Budapest, 45, 69
Pataki, Ferenc, 23, 92
Pecina, Heinrich, 161
Pécs, 58, 229
Pembroke College, Oxford, 23
Penn, Sean, 78
pensions, 79, 121, 186
Petőfi, Sándor, 112
Pew Research Center, 193, 246
Pharaon, Ghaith, 169
Philippines, 221
Piłsudski, Józef Klemens, 196
Pitt, William, earl of Chatham, 149
Pokorni, Zoltan, 75
Poland, 3, 17, 22, 182, 196, 199, 200, 216, 217, 249
Polat, Adnan, 168
Political Capital, 129
Polt, Péter, 109, 154
Poreč, Croatia, 170
Portugal, 124
Potemkin, Grigory, 240
poverty, 184–5
Princeton University, 106, 128, 200
privatisation, 40–42, 58
Pröll, Erwin, 45
Protestantism, 28, 36, 51
Protocols of the Elders of Zion, 213
public audit office, 97
Puch, László, 67, 175
Puskás, Ferenc, 169–70
Putin, Vladimir, 8, 10, 106, 135, 141, 210, 219, 221, 223–7
and Central European University, 226
visits to Hungary, 137, 224, 225
wealth, 166
Quaestor, 138–9, 241
Quantum, 209
Radio One, 160
Radnóti, Sándor, 192
railways, 168, 172, 244
Rajk, László, 5
Rambo, 157
Reding, Viviane, 113, 123–4
referenda
dual citizenship referendum (2004), 89, 237
fees abolition referendum (2008), 76–8
migrant quota referendum (2016), 193, 218
Reflections on History (Burckhardt), 3
refugees, 110, 125, 144, 189–205, 208, 213–14, 217, 220, 224, 246–7
Reporters Without Borders, 105, 116
Republikon Institute, 218
Research Centre for Corruption, 172–3
Research Institute for Competitiveness, 182
Resolution, The, 169
retirement age, 79, 105
Reuters, 248
Ringier, 161
Ripp, Zoltán, 62
Rogán, Antal, 147, 162, 245
Rogán, Anton, 178
Roma people, 48, 73, 138, 185, 193, 209, 236
Romania, 37, 42, 48–9, 68, 88, 89, 140, 185, 192, 199
Rosatom, 223–4, 227
Röszke, 189
RTL, 119, 139–40, 227
rule of law, 94, 97, 105, 109, 120, 214
Russia Today, 226
Russian Empire (1721–1917), 112, 213
Russian Federation, 8, 10, 106, 135, 146, 213, 221, 223–8
and Central European University, 219, 226
corruption, 166
Crimea annexation (2014), 224
energy, 146, 171, 223–4, 226
EU sanctions, 225
Georgia intervention (2008), 225
illiberal democracy, 141, 220, 221, 224
media, 226
and NGOs, 210, 211
Putin’s visits to Hungary, 137, 224, 225
Ukraine crisis (2014), 224
and Visegrád states, 200
Sarkozy, Nicolas, 144
Sárközy, Tamás, 10, 80, 141, 177, 237
Saudi Arabia, 169
Scheppele, Kim Lane, 124, 128, 129, 130, 241
Schiff, András, 123, 240
Schmidt, Mária, 50, 75, 204, 236
Schmitt, Carl, 179, 245
Schmitt, Pál, 75, 95–6
school system, 109, 234
Schröder, Gerhard, 61
Schulz, Martin, 197
Schüssel, Wolfgang, 84
Second Hungarian Army, 12
Second World War (1939–45), 12, 37, 38
secret service, 17, 54
‘secret speech’, see ‘lie speech’
Seehofer, Horst, 197–8, 220
Semjén, Zsolt, 178, 241
Semmelweis University, 96
separation of powers, 93, 103, 109–10
September 11 attacks (2001), 48
Serbia, 88, 89, 189, 190, 192
Simicska, Lajos, 16, 18, 28, 36, 144–8
APEH, leadership of, 46–7
corruption, 136
fundraising for Fidesz, 36
media empire, 76, 119, 120, 122, 147, 158, 160, 174, 245
split with Orbán, 135, 145–8, 150, 151, 160, 162, 227, 242, 248–9
wealth, 243
Simon, Gábor, 131
Simor, András, 108
Sípos, Erzsébet, 12, 15
Slovakia, 42, 88, 89, 181, 190, 199, 200, 249
Smallholders’ Party, 22, 37, 43, 46
social democracy, 17, 57, 61, 74, 116
Social Democratic Party
of Austria, 117
of Germany, 197, 198
of Hungary, 22
of Romania, 210
Socialist Party
and Antell government (1990–93), 24
Bajnai administration (2009–10), 79–80
Bokros package (1995), 40
coalition government, first (1994–8), 33, 34, 37, 40–42
coalition government, second (2002–10), 49, 53–63, 65–72, 73–4, 75–81, 84
corruption, 41, 46, 49, 54, 57, 74, 84, 131, 174–5, 229
D-209 affair (
2002), 54, 59
elections, see under elections
electoral reforms, 56
European elections (2004), 56–7
fees abolition referendum (2008), 76–8
foundation (1989), 22–3
Free Democrats, relations with, 40, 54, 57
Gyurcsány administration (2004–9), 57–63, 65–72, 73–4, 75–9
Horn administration, (1994–8), 34, 40, 41, 60, 74
lie speech’ (2006), 65–72, 75, 229, 237
Medgyessy administration (2002–4), 49, 54–7, 59–60
and Népszabadsag, 161
100-day programme (2002), 55
and Panama Papers, 174, 245
privatisation, 40–42
refugee crisis, 196
and social democracy, 57, 74
Tocsik scandal (1996), 41
Vatican agreement (1997), 42, 234–5
Romania agreement (2001), 48–9
Socialist Workers’ Party, 4–8, 15, 21, 22, 34, 44
Heroes’ Square funeral service (1989), 6–8, 22
and living standards, 13, 77
and national question, 37, 88
Round Table Talks (1989), 22
secret service, 17, 54
Society for Freedom Rights, 211
Sólyom, László, 70, 94, 99, 106, 237
Son of Saul, 158
Soros, George, 18, 23, 196, 207–20, 224, 230, 236, 246, 247
South Korea, 62
Soviet Union, 3, 4, 6, 8, 17, 22, 71, 102, 181, 221
Spiegel, Der, 196
Spiró, Győrgy, 185
Springer, 161
Sputnik News, 226
Stalin, Joseph, 3
Standard, Der, 196
Stendhal, 11
Stephen I, king of Hungary, 45, 102
Stoiber, Edmund, 204
Strache, Heinz-Christian, 200
Strasbourg, France, 104, 105, 117, 215
Strategopolis, 154
strawmen, 165–6, 228–9, 243
strongman’ leadership, 1, 220–21
Stumpf, István, 18, 44, 103, 154, 243
Süddeutsche Zeitung, 201
Sunday opening, 186
Sunday Telegraph, 67
Supreme Court, 104, 154, 155, 241
Surányi, György, 40
Sweden, 121
Swiss People’s Party, 202
Switzerland, 161, 171, 174
Swoboda, Hannes, 117
Syria, 189, 195, 197, 226, 247
Szabad Demokraták Szövetsége (SzDSz)
and Antell government (1990–93), 24
Bajnai administration (2009–10), 79–80
Bokros package (1995), 40
coalition government, first (1994–8), 31, 33, 34, 37, 40–42
coalition government, second (2002–10), 48, 49, 53–63, 65–72, 73–4, 75–81, 84
corruption, 41, 46, 49, 57, 84
D-209 affair (2002), 54
elections, see under elections
electoral reforms, 56
European elections (2004), 56–7
fees abolition referendum (2008), 76–8