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What is left from your account is that he stressed his support for free higher education, for free universal health care, etc.
We don't know what will be his final answer. Given the enormous swing to the left within electorate this game is not over, yet.
by Dr Minorka on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 05:30:47 PM EST
Is this another example of the main two parties triangulating each other to the point where one doesn't know who's right and who's extreme right any longer?

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 06:07:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]
No. In public, Fidesz is definitely very much on the left economically.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
by DoDo on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 04:24:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]
So this diary is showing that that's just a hypocritical stance to get votes?

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 05:01:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes. But Dr. Minorka reminded me that Orbán also suggested no reneging on two key points.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
by DoDo on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 05:14:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Fidesz is definitely very much on the left economically.

I mean, apart from occasional rumblings about tax cuts, and being left behind by the economic miralces of our (flat-taxing) neighbours.

Also, since it wake up from the shock of the leak, the Fidesz spin machine geared up. They began to issue rhetoric to the tune that "Orbán said nothing we won't back in public", but of course with lots of added nuance. (So now Orbán says that subway lines are necessary, lots of them, only cheaper - well, yes, with that I totally agree.) And thus rhetoric about actives and the middle class is back in their repertoire.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 05:40:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]
gotta love the region's politics. Poland's closest equivalent - the twins, are actually a bit more genuine in their economic populism in the sense that they have zero interest in economic policy.  Their party does include some with a neoliberal slant, though less than there used to be. It also has plenty who genuinely detest neoliberal policies. In their recent stint in power, they didn't come anywhere near to implementing the full spectrum of their anti-neoliberal campaign promises, but they certainly shifted things to the left from the previous 'left' i.e. post communist government.

The SLD incidentally are the folks who tend to be the most cynical in the contrast between left wing populism and neolib/kleptocratic policies. The PO - that is the hardcore neoliberals who are currently in power, have wound up governing to the left of their opposition era rhetoric - the practical consequences of having the PSL (Peasant Party) as a coalition partner.

Or in other words you've got three main political forces in Poland - the two post-Solidarity groupings, one center left on economics, very right wing on other stuff, the other very right wing on economics and center to center left on other matters. Then there are the post communists who are left on non-economic matters, technically center left on econ, in reality center right.

The Law and Justice camp is also riven between its mainly Pilsudkist leadership (interwar version, not the turn of the century Marxist national liberation incarnation) and a strong Endek (Polish fascist tradition) faction in its rank and file.

by MarekNYC on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 09:56:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I don't know about "etc.", but indeed he seems to keep on to his referendum line on free higher education and healthcare. He reportedly put that in this context:

"Sokaknak fog fájni": Orbán Viktor 2 év kőkemény megszorításra készül"It will hurt many people": Viktor Orbán prepares for 2 years of stone-hard austerity [measures]
Majdani kormányfőként továbbra is az aktívakra akar támaszkodni, a vállalkozókra a középrétegekre, az inaktívak közül pedig olyanokat emelne be, akiket az állami szerepvállalással, az ingyenes felsőoktatással és az ingyenes egészségüggyel meg tud tartani, a márciusi népszavazáson igennel szavazók közül. Az egészségügyről egyébként azt mondta: átalakítanák a jelenlegi rendszert, de az még dilemma, hogy a hozzájárulást adóvá vagy járulékká alakítsák-e át.As future PM, [Orbán] wants to continue with reliance on those active [in the labour force], the middle class; and of the inactives, he would include those from among the Yes voters in the March referendum, whom he can hold to with state ..., free higher education and free healthcare. For that matter, on healthcare, he said: they would change the present system, but it is still a dilemma whether the contributions should be modified into a tax or a contribution.

I haven't yet made up my mind on the significance of the last part.

At any rate, I do hope that that "enormous swing to the left within electorate" you note [was it a swing at all? wasn't the majority 'there' already?] will be sustained, will prove Orbán wrong, and he [or someone else] will have a difficult time selling policies that hurt as necessary to right the economy.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 04:53:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Er, forgot, I was struggling to find the right equivalent for one term:

whom he can hold to with state ...

state engagement/government involvement.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 05:13:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I was unable to find an adequate term like "state engagement/involvement", this was the reason of my "etc."...:)
"I haven't yet made up my mind on the significance of the last part." Just like me.
"wasn't the majority 'there' already?]"
Definitely yes. But this majority is growing. - And let me put a smiley here :) -
Much depends on the Hungarian Left. I mean those people who are not part of the terminally ill "left-liberal" establishment. The situation is "open".
by Dr Minorka on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 08:04:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I was unable to find an adequate term like "state engagement/involvement", this was the reason of my "etc."...:)

I read that line to mean that "state engagement/involvement" is not an extra point but pertinent to higher education and healthcare, with a "," used where a ":" would have been clearer. Could be wrong.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 08:54:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I interpreted it as a rejection of the much propagated principle of self-reliance. But of course could be wrong, too.
by Dr Minorka on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 09:12:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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