Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Jobbik president Gábor Vona exchanged pleasantries yesterday in parliament. In a question posed to the Prime Minister, Vona demanded Orbán explain how those close to him have been able to prosper so extravagantly, namely the “media-terminator Andy Vajna; his eminence of the grey economy, Árpád Habony; and the nation’s gas line repairman, Lőrinc Mészáros.”
Vona then asked Orbán to give a straight answer as to whether Lőrinc Mészáros is his strawman or not.
“An easy answer for an easy question: I have never had, will never have, and do not have any strawmen. Thank you for your attention,” Orbán replied.
The Fidesz-KDNP side of parliament erupted in applause like a group of barking seals.
Vona said that he sees the question obviously makes Orbán feel uncomfortable.
“The last time I asked you about Lőrinc Mészáros, you responded that I was accusing you of committing a crime. Prime Minister, if you really feel that I am accusing of having committed a crime – and I see you are nodding your head even now – then I suggest we go to court. Let’s go to court, let’s put aside our parliamentary immunity, and let’s allow the court to determine who Lőrinc Mészáros really is, who Viktor Orbán really is, and who Gábor Vona really is. You should be brave enough and open enough for this,” Vona said.
To this the Prime Minister responded:
“Week after week members of the government stand here and subject themselves being accused of committing crimes without any consequences. Indeed, that is the situation. In Hungary, every representative of parliament and member of the government are required to submit asset declarations that reflect reality. Those who do not do this are committing crimes. To allege that someone has a strawman, or to say that someone’s publicly available asset declaration does not reflect reality, is to accuse someone of committing a crime. I think it is not right to do that. The situation is the following. I have been a member of parliament since 1990. I have never been a wealthy man, I am not a wealthy man, and I will never be a wealthy man.”