Hungarian politician criticizes new government's 'Facebook governance'

Bence Rétvári, a politician from the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), offered a critical assessment of the new government's initial parliamentary activities and the broader political landscape in Hungary. Speaking to Magyar Nemzet, Rétvári observed that the first parliamentary week was marked by a lack of substantial legislative work, attributing this to the new ruling party's focus on communication over governance.

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We are currently seeing very few proposals coming to parliament... This is Facebook governance, not real governance.

"We are currently seeing very few proposals coming to parliament," Rétvári stated, noting that the initial week included a recess and a scarcity of legislative drafts from the Tisza Party. He contrasted this with the start of his party's governance 16 years prior, when they had already introduced 17 proposals. Rétvári characterized the Tisza Party's approach as "Facebook governance," suggesting a reliance on social media engagement rather than concrete policy-making that addresses citizens' daily lives.

Regarding the performance of Péter Magyar, a prominent figure in the new political movement, Rétvári expressed skepticism. He indicated that Magyar struggled with direct confrontation in parliament, resorting to interruptions and "ridiculous antics." Rétvári vowed that the Fidesz and KDNP parties would hold Magyar accountable for his past statements, promises, and alleged falsehoods.

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We will confront Péter Magyar with his own previous statements, his promises, and his lies.

Looking back at the Fidesz party's election defeat, Rétvári identified the 16 years in power as a significant factor. He noted that long-serving governments, like Orbán Viktor's, often experience a natural decline in public engagement and a growing desire for change among the populace. Additionally, he cited the slowdown in economic growth across Europe due to the war as a contributing factor to the domestic situation, suggesting that prolonged governance inevitably leads to wear and tear, making a shift in power more likely.

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The biggest factor was that we had been governing for 16 years... After so much time, every government wears down, everything becomes routine, and people increasingly desire some kind of change.