------------------------------------------ -- EZ A SZÁM CSAK TEXT FORMÁBAN LÉTEZIK -- ------------------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Apr 91 22:48:52 EDT Subject: *** FORUM *** #204 Tartalomjegyzek: ---------------- Felado : gantony@gara.une.oz.au Temakor: A BBC Magyarorszagrol ( 118 sor ) =============================================== Felado : gantony@gara.une.oz.au Temakor: A BBC Magyarorszagrol ( 118 sor ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Valahol azt olvastam, hogy aranylag kevesen tudjak olvasni a soc.culture.magyar-t, ezert ide is postazom azt az osszefoglalot amit egy feloras BBC World Service musorrol utottem ossze. Nem volt cernam magyarul megegyszer leirni az egeszet, remelem boldogultok az angol szoveggel. This is a condensed version of the BBC World Service documentary on Hungary, in their series entitled: Eastern Europe - What happened to the revolution ? Hungary faces the reality of democracy that is different from the dreams about it during the communist regime, primarily the economic reality. Economics were the reason why the communists gave up power in the first place. Before the change, Hungary was different from other satellites in that there was food in the shops and, for most, freedom to travel. Hungarians are the most pessimistic people in Europe: the mood is clouded, with some reasons. Some entrepreneurs are getting rich, some smart young turncoat ex-communists are doing well on the stockmarket, but the majority of workers is out in the cold. Even though Hungary is doing better than its neighbours - it always did - the only neighbour of comparison that matters for Hungarians is Austria. Geza Jeszenszky, foreign minister, emphasizes that just democracy will not bring Austrian living standards. The majority of state enterprises are still in government hands, and for ordinary Hungarians the only thing visible is the prices goin up. The taxi-drivers' strike was one outpouring of sentiment last October. Some people interviewed during the strike were sympathetic with the taxi drivers but others called for order. The government then backed down on petrol prices, as it did more recently on milk prices. It is this lack of decisiveness on which most people fail the government, saying that they are just amateurs. The crippling foreign debt must be taken into consideration when criticizing the government, but it is also the opinion of some that the progress of the economy ocurred independently of the government. The government intervened little, and small enterpreneurs used the opportunity of the freed economy. The economy is on the course in many ways, though. Half of foreign investment in Eastern Europe is in Hungary, there is a trade surplus, the trade with the SU is declining, and inflation is still manageable though high. The loss of jobs is not too bad considering the pace of change. The Red Army is leaving by June, something that has been made into a provocative song entitled "Bye Bye Sasha". This allows Hungary to restore its traditional Western orientation. The worry is that nationalism may be on the rise, fuelled by the treatment of Hungarian nationalities in neighbouring countries. However, democracy may provide a way to solve this problem that existed before, but got swept under the carpet. The media changed from under party control to being out of control. Libel is often alleged, but laws dealing it do not exist. There is a taste for vengeance in Hungary after the communist era, and this is reflected on everybody who was anybody before the change. The credibility of the media is low, as a trowback to the old times. Local government is another part of fledgling democracy. Gabor Demszky, the lord mayor of Budapest, emphasizes the difference between expectations and realities in social life and policing the city. The lack of clear laws makes local government difficult and creates the semblence of government strongarm tactics. Hungary lacks the charismatic leader of Poland or Czechoslovakia, but Jozsef Antall, the prime minister, has a strong role that may not be obvious to the outsiders. While authoritarian in some peoples' eyes, he is said to resist temptation to become one. Surviving one year since the change is an achievement itself, given the political inexperience of the population that may reach the end of its patience very quickly (see Poland). Still, there are signs of tiredness with politics: during the last by-elections only a fraction of the people bothered to vote. One of the leaders of the most popular party, the Free Democrats, says that an early election may cause too much dislocation than a change of government would be worth. The government should be given a chance to clear up the mess inherited. ------------------------------------------ The next programme in the series, on Czechoslovakia, will be broadcast on Friday 27 April, at 0730 GMT by BBC World Service, the shortwave service of the BBC. ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------- George Antony (gantony@gara.une.oz.au) Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W. 2351, Australia Fax: (+61-67) 711531 Phone: (+61-67) 733222 (GMT +10 hrs) -------------------------------------------------------------