For the SPD-politician Katarina Barley, it is something like enemy territory. Here in Hungary, and the Empire of right-wing conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, have social Democrats, as they say. To like home Barleys party stuck in the crisis. But this is no comparison to the situation of the Hungarian Comrades. With just a few deputies in Parliament, are far away from any government involvement. Completely in the corner they are pushed by the overpowering right-wing populists of the ruling Fidesz party. “Frustrating,” says Barley.
Of which is felt on this Monday evening but nothing. Barley has taken in a conference room in the Budapest centre of the square – to sit next to her leading officials of the SPD’s sister party, the MSZP, the Hungarian social Democrats. The room is designed with a brown carpeted floor, the wall is wood-paneled, milk glass ceiling lamps cast a warm light on the Podium. In the audience, many of the Older seats, the atmosphere is friendly. The German Minister of justice and Europe’s-top candidate of the SPD will be received here with open arms. Barley is among friends. She talks about the “social Europe”, fiscal policy, the Brexit – topics, as you pray social Democrats everywhere in Europe the election campaign.
The message, which she sings together with MSZP-chief Bertalan Tóth: Select go – on the best social-democratic!
It’s not about the threat to democracy
The support for the Hungarian Comrades but it is the only reason for Barleys trip to Budapest. In Hungary, the rule of law from the point of view of the European social Democrats is in danger. It wants to inform Barley: how the press of the Fidesz-government is restricted, such as cultural professionals find themselves under pressure, such as Orbán and his faithful followers extend shamelessly their Power.
The threat to democracy in Europe is to make Barley as SPD top candidate for the EU Parliament to the main topic of their campaign. A “struggle for the rule of law in the EU” wanted to lead, she said at the weekend the European Convention of the SPD in Berlin – from the Comrades, she was celebrated for it. And where is this fight better fight than the always authoritarian’m Hungary?
daily mirror tomorrow location
Free
order That it shows in the country just right to basic democratic values such as freedom of expression, then, is also equal to the Barleys arrival in Budapest. A conversationalist and a lunch with the SPD politician says – as an employee of a state University, they fear the pressure from the government, it says. Shortly thereafter, a meeting of the SPD-affiliated Friedrich-Ebert is locked-Foundation in the short term for the travelling journalists. The reasons: Some participants had a fear of being in the press.
Is democracy in Hungary, so really in acute danger? During your visit, don’t want to set the Barley to it. At the question she shrugs, scrunches the corners of the mouth. The possibility of a frontal attack on Orbán’s not using neither on the Podium nor at the press conference with MSZP-chief Tóth, even if Barley is not expressly as a member of the Federal government, but as an election campaigner for the SPD.
But advertising is what makes Barley on this trip but more for the “social Europe” – and less for their struggle for the rule of law in all EU member States. The “early warning system”, she demanded at the weekend, spoke to Barley only at the edge. It is beat to Barleys idea on the European level Alarm, if a member state is undermining democracy.
the rule of law is for the Minister is crucial
For your Hungary visit to Barley, it now sounds more cautious. It merely says phrases such as: “the rule of law is for me absolutely crucial.” The harsh attack on the political opponent. It presents itself more as a diplomatic Minister and less as an election campaigner. Even the decision of the European people’s party (EPP), Orbán’s Fidesz party, under observation, criticized the Barley just with relatively mild words.
the strategy of The Conservatives was “not fish and not meat”. The Union is now even nervous that Orbán claims in the European election campaign. That’s why the EPP group of the Fidesz-party temporarily, the membership is deprived of rights “is more a tactical maneuver than a clear Position,” says Barley.
More about
Declaration of war on the rights of the populists, the SPD decides Europe-choice program
Hans Month
“who should decide.” But it is in fact the Right to have the everything. Orbán and the CSU? “A long story,” says Barley and moans briefly.
Then she turns back to the other main theme of their election campaign: the “social Europe”.
