Ágnes Heller: Where there is no rule of law, there is corruption

Internationally reknowned philosopher Ágnes Heller told ATV’s Olga Kálmán on Friday that “where there is no rule of law, there is corruption. The two depend on each other”.  Citing former SZDSZ politician Bálint Magyar’s book “Magyar Polip” (Hungarian Octopus) she said Hungary’s current political system was “based on corruption”.

On the subject of numerous changes made to the Fundamental Law since its adoption in 2011 and the recent crackdown on civil movements, Heller observed that in the United States the traditional constitution and civil movements are “sacrosanct”. “For two centuries civil movements have been fundamental to democracy. Civil movements give rise to civil organizations which, in turn, pressure governments for reform.”

Heller said it was the view of the current government that “intelligent people don’t listen to anyone, they dictate” and defined Prime Miniser Viktor Orbán’s fundamental behavior as one of “what I said, I said; what I explained, I explained; and what I want, I want; and nobody should have any say in the matter”.  She did not believe such behavior was sustainable given the government’s current environment.

Heller called the temporary suspension of the right of six Hungarians to enter the United States for reasons of corruption “a huge scandal” and a “strong action that expresses the (United States’) opinion”.  She could not think of a prior instance when the US banned invidividuals close to the government of an allied country. “They (Hungary) will try to hush it up but it is not possible to hush it up.”

When asked to account for Hungary’s tendency to completely disregard the opinions of its allies, Heller said the Orbán regime was such that ”everything the prime minister resolves to do is done, even when every sign indicates it should not be done”. She cited the highly controversial monument to the victims of the German invasion as an example.

more: BudapestBeacon