“He never opposed in any way the leadership of Fidesz or the government of Fidesz. And now he opposes, for the first time, defending his seat,” Bálint Magyar, a former Hungarian cabinet minister, told POLITICO.
A blind eye
The president’s unpopularity may help explain why Magyar feels free to attack him with harsh words.
“How, after so much fear, turning a blind eye, and lying, can you unite this beautiful nation?” Magyar said in his first parliamentary speech after winning the election. “In my opinion, you can’t. Mr. President, it’s time to leave with your head held high, while you still can.”
During his interview with POLITICO, Sulyok showed himself to be unaffected by the attacks. He also avoided questions about violations of the law during Orbán’s administration and presented himself as a political actor who obeys the letter of the law.
“My personal feelings and emotions have no legal significance,” he said. “I aim for the success of the new parliament and the new government, because that is in the fundamental interest of every Hungarian citizen.”
But, he added, the constitutional crisis caused by Magyar’s attempts to remove him had to be resolved.
“The constitutional crisis is bad for the country,” he said.
In addition to disrupting the domestic politics of the country, Sulyok added: “It damages the reputation of the country and its international respect.”
