[fse-esf] Renewed social tensions in Hungary

[Simó Endre]

Hungary is showing signs of renewed social tensions, risking with 
major social conflicts because the consequences ont he life of the 
population of the ultra liberal policy of the ruling coalition of  Ferenc 
Gyurcsany government of socialists and free democrats. The EU 
wanted „Convergency Program” of Gyurcsany has drastically increased 
all the prices and taxes of products and services of first necessity, has 
opened the way to the demolishing of the welfare system and it is 
restricting the democratic rights of freedom. The grown prices and 
taxes, among them the 60-65 pc increased price of the gaz for 
domestic consumption from 1st of February, have largely overcame the 
solvibility of milions of pensioners, jobless and poor people, causing a 
generalizing discontentment among the population. Demonstrations 
and calls for strikes are testifying the resistence of the people against 
the drastic worsening of life conditions, the closure of hospitals and the 
introduction of health payment system, the closure of schools, post 
offices and railway lines considered unnecessary from the point of 
vieuw of State financing by the ruling coalition of socialists and free 
democrats. New mass lockouts in the public sector are planned for this 
year. The everyday public protests are showing the maturation of the 
civic resistence and the solidarity among people. Prime Minister 
Gyurcsany continues refusing his dismissal and Socialist Party seems to 
elect him president of the party on 24th February. In front of the 
growing social discontentment Gyurcsany is recurring to policial 
mesures and to restrictions of the democratic rights of freedom in 
Hungary. Since last october Budapest Kossuth square, the political 
heart of the country, is declared „operation area of the police” and 
closed to the public with a double metellic barrier. All kind of 
demonstration has been banned in open contradiction with the spirit of 
the constitution. On 2d February deputies of the opposition has 
demolished this „iron courtain”, but Gyucsany has immediately ordered 
the re-building of the barrier defense system followed by the closure 
not only of the square but also of the accession ways to it. All polls are 
indicating a dramatic loose of the popularity of Gyurcsany government 
and an increased sympathy of the main political force in opposition, 
FIDESZ (Alliance of the young Democrats, Hungarian Civic Party). 
FIDESZ president, Viktor Orban has confirmed his party intention to 
withdraw the law on Health Reform and the safegaurding of the 
existing solidarity social security system, banning the privatization of 
the same. In order to achieve these concrete results the Social Round 
Table organized on 16th December 2006 for initiative of our Hungarian 
Social Forum cw, has decided enter in a unity of action with the 
National Round Table for Health, in which also FIDESZ is present. On 
1st of February the Social Round Table, composed by Trade Unions, 
civic organisations and leftwing political parties and groups, has 
engaged itself with the National Round Table for Health, composed by 
the Chamber of Doctors and Assistants, civic organisations of ill people, 
Trade Union of Health Employees (EDDSZ) and FIDESZ in order to 
achieve the revocation of the law of „Health Reform” and to hinder the 
privatisation of the Hungarian Social Security System (TB). The principle 
guiding us in doing so, is the necessity of democratic joining of forces 
for concrete objectives, leftwing unity beeing unsufficient to achieve 
these fundamental social goals. We want to obtain concrete results at 
the defense of equal Rights to Health, against all kind of discriminations 
in the healthcare and to maintain in public hands the solidarity based 
Security System. Interesting new opportunities are opening also in the 
fields of education and employment with other democratic forces 
interested in achieving the same goals with the left. While State owned 
medias are ignoring our steps, other medias are largely echoing the 
activity of the Social Round Table and its policy of democratic alliances.

      4th February 2007                                   Endre Simó.


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