Conservatives question Europe’s right to interfere
January 31st, 2012A pro-government commentator accuses Hungary’s international critics of serving the interests of a few dozen greedy private companies. A renowned British conservative philosopher thinks Hungary should reject foreign interference in her internal affairs. “The interest spread Hungary has to pay on its debt deprives us of resources that are indispensable for our people’s s subsistence l” – complains Matild Torkos in Magyar Nemzet. She argues that the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights requires all governments to ensure decent living standards for the population and guarantees the right of all peoples to self-determination. Now, as a result of the strong international pressure Hungary is currently under, her ability to dispose of her own resources has been curbed, alongside her sovereign right to decide what tax system to choose or when to send judges into retirement. The European Union and the IMF are pressurizing Hungary to abandon its “unorthodox” economic policy, which aimed to share the burdens of the crisis with the banks and the multinational companies. Self-determination, Torkos concludes bitterly, “is being crushed underfoot by the thirst for profit of a few dozen private enterprises”. At least “if a country does not dispose of a minimum of a few atomic bombs, has no strong multinational enterprises or faithful political allies.”
In Mos Maiorum, conservative British philosopher Roger Scruton contends that Hungary should tell Europe: ”you are not governing us”. In an interview to the recently launched site, Professor Scruton – who has had seven of his books published in Hungarian – says Prime Minister Viktor Orbán should explain his intentions more clearly. He believes Mr Orbán is right to strengthen the nation-state, for the European Union is a failure, “will hopefully fall apart” and give way to a system of co-operation among nation-states. “Just like (former French president Charles) De Gaulle wanted it to be”.