- What opportunities do you think there are to accelerate the integration of Hungary in the community of EU and what are the political-economic tools of this?
- I would like Hungary to enjoy respect in the European Union not just at the level of diplomatic courtesy, but also as  a country with a performance that deserves the acknowledgement of the member states of the EU. After the political transition Hungary had a period from 1999 to 2001 when that was the case. It was not so long ago when 1st January 2007 was the target date of accession to the Euro-zone determined by the performance of the Hungarian economy and mutually accepted by the Hungarian political parties. By today, however, the Hungarian economy has slid into a pit and from frontrunners we have become also-rans. Also-rans are rarely envied, though they, too get a pat on the shoulder, as a competition is only exciting if there are enough participants. No one enters a competition to be last, so we are pleasant competitors nowadays. This is a situation we should get out of. Hungarians are creative, progressive and full of ideas. Our history proves that these characteristics  have always been typical of us. This is a kind of resource that you can always rely on. Instead of today’s grey, dull, witless and unsuccessful solutions there is a need for initiative and progressivism in politics and economy alike.

- What is your opinion of the appreciation of Hungary within EU? What is the foreign policy that can ensure Hungary’s continuous closing up and priorities to the national interests and meets the EU expectations at the same time?
- The European Union is a community of nations of culture, therefore its inner workings are characterized by a tone of politeness. We Hungarians do not have to worry about someone coming up to us and telling the truth in our face bluntly. This is not done in Europe. The word ‘no’ is even avoided in diplomacy, instead ‘rather than’, ‘perhaps’, ‘however’ are fashionable phrases. We have no need to pocket the usual polite European sentences, but what we need is that the other 26 countries consider us as a reliable partner and a very serious competitor. The EU in itself is competition. The member-states did not join it to find themselves in a basin with tepid water. Such an atmosphere weakens states, takes their initiative and kills their creativity. The EU is successful because the member-states are in stiff competition with each other while they agree on forming common rules. The worlds of cooperation and competition are present in the European Union at the same time. Our position would only be good if at least some countries envied us, if some could see that we are overtaking them in several races. I would like the leaders of Hungary to be aware of the fact that we are a western bridgehead and not a bridge between the East and the West, as Hungary itself belongs to the West. During the course of European social development the social systems on which the West and the East organized their life have split sharply. Hungary is a member of NATO and EU, so Hungary is a part of  western culture which is based on democracy, rights of freedom, market competition and not a link between eastern and western civilizations. As for particular Hungarian national interests, Hungary can look forward to the 21st century with high hopes. We should not forget that Hungary is the only country which borders itself. From the point of our national interests the most important question is the reunification of the parts that had been cut off from us without changing the borders. The European Union offers this very opportunity to the member-states, makes the borders “ethereal”, practically cancelling them between the member states. That is why Hungarian communities so far divided by state borders, insulated by administrative barriers, belonging to the Hungarian nation but living on the territory of other states, may belong to a new community, the European Union.”

- Do you think that this also means we are prepared for Schengen?
- Opportunity and result are not the same. EU membership itself produces no results. Opportunities provided by the European Union have to be exploited. The EU offers a lot of opportunities, but if you sit with your arms crossed, you cannot achieve anything. Here you must work, stand up for your interests, be brave and have initiatives. When this issue of this magazine is published, we will all witness a historical moment, as nearly seven hundred kilometres of borders will cease between Hungary and Slovakia. This border has divided great number of viable Hungarian communities from each other. This situation ends now, because following Schengen we step in the world of togetherness and mutual interests. I must add that Schengen is also a challenge for Hungary, as there are  Hungarian communities that are separated from us by stricter borders than earlier, for Hungary also provides the external borders of the Schengen zone. The non-EU Serbian and Ukrainian borders are just like that. Hungary has to take steps to make sure that  the access of Hungarians to Hungarians are not complicated in spite of the Schengen border.

- What are the main elements of the social and economic progressivism in an alternative government program?
- Our basic principle is the following: competitiveness and social security must not be opposed to each other. Hungary has switched from one wrong economic track to another. Hungarian decision-makers misguidedly think that competitiveness and social security are contrasting goals. In Europe, however, we can see that in the 21st  century those nations will be successful that can achieve competitiveness and social security at the same time. An era has ended in Europe. We call it the era of moral relativism, of the ‘68 generation. The victories of Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Sarkozy have placed such programs in government position that will mean the revitalization of the social market economy and a strong Europe. In my opinion the right way for Europe is not to follow the doctrine of neo-liberal economic competitiveness in the globalized competition, but to try to revitalize the European social market economy.

- How do you judge the role of leading personalities in everyday politics and what abilities are indispensable and what are harmful in the case of particular decision crises?
- The European continent was successful only when determined leaders with a clear character and program led the majority of countries. Of course these leaders have always been elected in Europe since World War II. In a world where a leader is not appointed or anointed but elected by the people, he is as strong as the trust people have in him. His abilities, knowledge are essential, but first and foremost his strength is fed upon the belief and support of the ones standing behind him. He is only able to execute his program to the extent he is supported. Democracy is the greatest political achievement of the end of the 20th century in Central Europe, therefore we have to insist that any political system should be democratic. Even the most outstanding, skilled leaders cannot afford to govern their country against the intentions of the voters. This is what happens today in Hungary. This is an unacceptable, outdated and old-fashioned formula in the whole of Europe.
Today a lot of people think that political leadership means governments can do whatever they want between two elections. This is a misunderstanding of European democracy and leads to social disorder, even crises. Hungary has got into a social crisis because people do not want what the government wants and the government does not want what people want.

- You have a large family. What can you recommend and promise the large families that live on tight squeeze of the present economic situation? What perspective on their problem can you see?
- Hungary suffers from a social misery when young people’s answer to the worsening economic situation is that eventually they bear fewer children than they originally would have liked to. Therefore Hungary is a country of unborn children. Both in opposition and on government I have always considered it most important that those people, those families that bear children besides having jobs should be treated by the Republic of Hungary with distinct respect and appreciation. They also take responsibility for the future of the country and this deserves respect and appreciation including child tax benefits, student loans, home credits, all the programs that have been worked out in European politics in the past 80-100 years. There has never been such a sore need for family-friendly policy in Hungary than now. Instead, the present tax system in Hungary is  anti-family and government policies explicitly hinder women with children to go out and work. The tone of respect for families with children is missing from the whole Hungarian public opinion, Hungarian public life.

- Since the transition which Christmas Holiday and New Year’s Eve have been the most memorable one for You?
- Every Christmas was memorable when there was one more of us under the Christmas tree than in the previous year. Thus I have five memorable Christmases. The first one was in 1989 before the collapse of communism. The mood of Christmas is not determined by political systems. This Christmas was jotted down in the book of family legends because we celebrated it not in Hungary but in Oxford, England where I studied as a post graduate student at that time.

- What do you wish the citizens of Hungary for the New Year?
- I wish all Hungarian people a lot of strength and good health. May God give everybody  good neighbours, an understanding partner, a happy family and every Hungarian a job that is useful, has sense and bears fruit.


Diplomata Magazin - István Fodros