Fidesz: Telekom cancellation of singer’s sponsorship deal reminiscent of Communist era

Budapest (MTI) – Magyar Telekom’s decision to cancel a sponsorship agreement with Hungarian pop singer Akos Kovacs over his comments on the role of women in society is reminiscent of the cultural policy of Communist Hungary, the ruling Fidesz party’s parliamentary group leader said on Sunday.

“Comrade [Gyorgy] Aczel walks among us,” Lajos Kosa said, referring to the prominent culture minister of the Communist era.

On Wednesday Magyar Telekom, the local unit of Deutsche Telekom, decided to cancel its sponsorship agreement with Kovacs over the singer’s comments on the role of women.

“The role of women is not to make as much money as men,” the singer said in an interview with private television channel Echo TV. When asked what the role of women was, the singer said it was “belonging to someone, giving birth … being mothers”.

Kosa said Kovacs has a right to express his private opinion, and anyone who disagrees with him should have challenged that opinion instead of taking revenge. The Fidesz group leader said Telekom’s move was reminiscent of Aczel’s cultural policy in the Communist era, which viewed art on the basis of political affiliation instead of cultural value.