Interview with Jobbik MEP Márton Gyöngyösi

After the EP election 2019, Márton Gyöngyösi, Jobbik executive vice president became the opposition conservative party’s new and only MEP. 

Daily News Hungary: Congratulations on becoming an MEP after working nine years as an MP in the Hungarian Parliament! What’s the atmosphere like in Brussels? What differences have you experienced between the Hungarian and the European Parliament so far?

MEP Gyöngyösi: Unfortunately, Hungarian parliamentarism has become completely empty in recent years as Fidesz, with its two-thirds majority, feels entitled to ignore the various discussion forums entirely. This is a move in a horrible direction because half of the country has an opposition stance, regardless of the electoral system.

The European Union is undergoing formative times right now.

Citizens clearly expect a change of direction. The time has come to truly implement the generally accepted slogan that Europe should be brought closer to the people. However, this also means that Europe needs more democracy and backroom deals should no longer be made. That’s why I’m so frustrated to see certain politicians ignoring the lead candidate system or party affiliations overriding expertise when committee memberships are determined.

On the other hand, I believe that European politics will gain significantly more weight in the upcoming years. At critical times like these, it is especially unfortunate that the Hungarian governing party is increasingly isolating itself and Hungary as well. I want to demonstrate that there is a civic and democratic centre-right in Hungary, too.

Daily News Hungary: What were the most critical moments during your service in the Hungarian Parliament? 

MEP Gyöngyösi: As a Hungarian MP, I have always done my best to call the public’s attention to the increasingly grave social gaps and tried to find solutions for them together with my fellow MPs. That’s why we launched the initiative for a European Wage Union. I’d also like to point out that Jobbik, as the largest parliamentary opposition group, stood up against the slavery act as well as several other anti-democratic measures so typical of the Fidesz government.

Daily News Hungary: Jobbik has been in the European Parliament for 10 years. What have been your party’s most significant achievements so far? What would you carry on with and what would you change?

MEP Gyöngyösi:

Jobbik is the only party to offer a centre-right, conservative, Christian-Social alternative to Fidesz’ exercise of power which has been centre-right in its words but rather Bolshevik in its deeds.

We believe the Wage Union initiative was a great achievement as we gathered the support of several allies despite the headwind generated by the Hungarian government. Jobbik is a patriotic, conservative, social and democratic party. That’s the concept I want to carry on with.

Besides that, I also want to make our European parliamentary work more visible and more palpable for Hungarian voters. European politics in general and the European Parliament, in particular, have an increasingly important role in our lives. Unfortunately, the Hungarian government employs whatever means it can to prevent Hungarian citizens from getting an insight into this work. Therefore, as an opposition MEP, I will need to use all the available tools to involve the people in European politics. There’s a third sad thing, too: since Orbán’s growing dictatorship is now curbing MPs’ rights and undermines the functioning of entire political parties, the only politicians still immune to Fidesz’ omnipresent network and machinations are the Members of the European Parliament.

Daily News Hungary: At the moment you are working in Brussels on your own as a non-attached MEP. What are your short and mid-term plans? 

MEP Gyöngyösi: I am indeed a non-attached Member in the European Parliament, but I don’t feel being on my own at all.

I have been in cooperation with several MEPs on certain issues in the past few weeks, and I think our joint efforts may lead to a collective parliamentary group as well. Jobbik’s goal is to offer a centre-right, conservative alternative to Fidesz’ dictatorial exercise of power, as a significant part of Hungary is conservative.

Daily News Hungary: And what are your long-term plans? Do you have some agenda items that you want to implement by 2024? What are your ambitions in Brussels? 

MEP Gyöngyösi: Democracy, solidarity, social justice and Christian values. That’s what I want to represent.

Daily News Hungary: What committees are you going to work in and what are your primary goals there?

MEP Gyöngyösi: I will be involved in the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on International Trade. This is a great achievement for me because many MEPs, who are already members of certain party families have only been given seats in committees with much lower prestige and, last but not least, influence.