The domestic left wing has repeatedly demonstrated that they prioritize alignment with Brussels over Hungarian public opinion. Regarding Voks 2025, MEP Zoltan Tarr has again made it clear that he doesn’t value the voices of Hungarians. Zoltan Tarr, Peter Magyar's close associate, called the public opinion vote “completely useless,” effectively dismissing the input of more than two million people.
Tarr recently gave an interview to the George Soros network-affiliated Polish outlet TVP World, where he said the Tisza Party has a different stance on Ukraine than the current Hungarian government and signaled an eager willingness to conform to Brussels’s policies.
Zoltan Tarr Exposes the Tisza Party
Tarr has made other surprising statements in the past, including admitting the party lacks its own developed positions and will align with the European People's Party (EPP) positions.
We don’t have a firmly established position on every issue. The same goes for domestic politics. We’re a very young formation and don’t want just three people to decide what we think on certain topics. […] So, in many ways, we rely on the EPP's stance, which is a kind of obligation. There are several issues where we accept and adopt the EPP position.
Peter Magyar's associate stated.
Left-Wing Disregard for Public Opinion
By calling the Voks 2025 vote unnecessary, Tarr continues a longstanding leftist tradition of undermining public consultation. Left-wing parties have frequently attacked national consultations and referendums initiated by the Hungarian government. The most recent national consultation, on the country’s new economic policy, took place in fall 2023 and drew participation from 1.3 million people. Still, Peter Magyar dismissed the process, saying:
I don’t think it’s possible to insult the intelligence of Hungarians any more than this,
Domocratic Coalition (DK) politician Zsolt Greczy called the public opinion consultation a waste of money and a sham. In the 2023 consultation on national sovereignty, MP Akos Hadhazy vandalized a campaign poster, calling it “fascist propaganda.” Katalin Cseh, then MEP of Momentum, in a speech at the European Parliament, condemned the campaign as a taxpayer-funded attack on the EU and its leadership.
In the 2022 national consultation on EU sanctions, the DK claimed there was no point in asking people’s opinions. Momentum even proposed collecting and sending them up in smoke by distributing them as kindling to those in need.
Voks 2025 Enjoys Massive Popularity
Voks 2025, which enables Hungarians to express their views on Ukraine’s fast-tracked EU membership, is now nearing its final phase, with voting closing at midnight on Friday, June 20. The Hungarian government warns that Ukraine’s accelerated accession carries serious risks. They argue it could financially ruin the EU and be particularly detrimental to Hungary and Central Europe. Key concerns include the loss of agricultural subsidies, increased security threats from the war, rising organized crime, labor market disruption, and strain on the healthcare and pension systems.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Kossuth Radio that over two million ballots had been returned, calling it a massive success and urging everyone to take part.
Cover photo: Tisza Party chief Peter Magyar and MEP Zoltan Tarr say one thing in Brussels and completely different things at home (Photo: Tamas Purger/MTI Photo Desk)
