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Jobbik: Opposition MPs banned from donating for charity in Hungary
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While Fidesz’ candidates can easily donate eggs and milk or even laptops labelled with the candidate’s name to senior citizens, opposition politicians are no longer allowed to give donations to an institution for handicapped children. Jobbik’s Ádám Mirkóczki wanted to help but the institution’s regional operator, which reports to Zoltán Balogh’s Ministry of Human Capacities, simply banned him from doing so. Explanation: nothing.
Talking to daily Magyar Nemzet, Jobbik’s MP who is also running for the parliamentary seat to represent the Eger electorate said that they had had some money left after the Christmas charity events so they offered their help to a Heves county institution for handicapped children. (He didn’t reveal the name of the institution because, as the politician put it, he didn’t want to put them on the spot.) The manager of the institution told him that they needed some skills development toys so the politician and his team bought such toys for a certain sum. They agreed that there would be no media event, they wouldn’t even take photos unless the institution allows. Mr Mirkóczki says this is their standard practice: if the recipient wishes so, they don’t document the donation.
Before their meeting scheduled for yesterday though, the regional operator intervened and the whole thing had to be cancelled. According to the e-mail, which we have seen too, the regional department of the Social and Child Protection Directorate did not support the idea of the donation.
They did admit as much that MP Ádám Mirkóczki “may of course enter the institution” but they “respectfully asked” him “not to bring any donations”.
What the message does not reveal though is why regional director Zsolt Sinka in charge of social affairs would not like handicapped children to get skills development toys, even if they come from a Jobbik MP.
Ádám Mirkóczki told us that “respecting but disagreeing with the operator’s request” he asked a co-worker to deliver the toys as a private citizen, so the children did receive them eventually. “I find it utterly outrageous and equally incomprehensible that a man with such insensitive and anti-social thinking as Zsolt Sinka could become the head of an organization comprising institutions caring for severely handicapped and sick children,” the politician said. On the other hand, he added, you should have no doubt that if the region’s Fidesz MP Zsolt Nyitrai had given any donations like that, the local television would have broadcast the event live.
It is certainly disappointing to hear that the Opposition MPS is banned from donating educational electronic devices to benefit children’s educations. From what I have experienced while in the educational system, having computers and learning how to use that technology was exponentially beneficial to my ability to operate in an everyday work environment. I can’t imagine functioning in my workplace without understanding how to use metabase for my business data. I understand that donations to benefit and promote a candidate during an election can be looked down upon, but I think that the benefits for the children far outweigh any negative aspects.