A Hungarian minister has sparked outrage by claiming that Roma should clean toilets on trains as an "internal labor reserve". Construction and Transport Minister Janos Lászlár made the remarks during an election campaign event in the western town of Balatonalmády, AFP reported, BTA reports.
“If there are no migrants, someone still has to clean toilets on intercity trains. Then internal labor reserves should be used. And the internal reserve is the Hungarian Roma community,“ Lászlár said. The Roma are Hungary's largest minority, making up about 7 percent of the 9.5 million population, the agency noted.
Lazar's shocking comments sparked an immediate backlash. Peter Magyar, the leader of the main opposition party Tisza, said on Facebook that Lazar "looks down on the Roma" and posted a video in which he called the minister "the Dracula of public funds." and the "threat to the railways", calling on him to resign immediately.
Former State Secretary for Transport (currently in opposition) David Vitezi said the minister should resign "not only for the unacceptable racist statements", but also for what he has turned Hungarian railways into, the Hungarian internet portal "444.hu" reported. "The messy, unworthy of a European state and unreliable intercity service is the result solely of the wrong, anti-railway political decisions of the transport ministry", he said.
Even more worrying for Fidesz is that the comments were also criticized by the country's Roma community. This is how the famous singer of Roma origin, Grófo Kis, who in the past publicly supported the ruling party and performed at its election rallies, expressed his indignation. “I must express my indignation and misunderstanding regarding the political statements on Roma issues of the last few days! Not only because I am a staunch representative of the Roma cause and culture, but also because the Roma are an integral part of Hungarians in all areas of our life and society! Therefore, I categorically reject and condemn all such statements, thoughts and opinions that discriminate, humiliate, despise or condemn the Roma in any way on racist grounds!“, he wrote on the social network “Facebook“.
Other public figures of Roma origin, such as comedian Laszlo Lakatos, began to publish photos of themselves on social networks with a toilet brush in their hands, mocking the minister's remarks. “I am seriously considering changing the microphone, leaving the stand-up stage and trying my hand at a new field! Yanechko, great idea! If you want, you can teach me personally! Kisses!“, he wrote on his profile on “Facebook“.
The founder of the Roma school “Doctor Ambedkar“ was particularly sharp in his reaction in the city of Miskolc, János Orsos, who is considered an influential representative of the community, reported the Hungarian publication “Heti Vilaggazdásag“. The Roma activist and teacher added that he believes that “Roma voters will hear and understand what the government's vision is for them.“ In conclusion, he suggested that Minister Lázár “grab a brush, get on the intercity train, see for himself what he has done on the railways and clean up after himself“
The extra-parliamentary opposition “Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party“, which often holds protest actions with a humorous tone, also commented on the scandal in its own way, the newspaper “Nepsovo“ reported. Party activists placed toilet brushes on bas-reliefs in the Gypsy Music Park in the Budapest district of Józsefváros. "Our famous musicians of Roma origin have a place in the social image of Minister László," the party said in a statement. The mayor of the adjacent metropolitan area, András Píko, did not appreciate the action. "This is not a political protest against the unacceptable words of János László, but an insult to the memory of the Gypsy musicians who enriched Hungarian culture and won international recognition with their art," wrote the independent mayor of Józsefváros.
Budapest's liberal mayor, Gergely Karacsón, noted that the minister's comments were part of the authorities' tendency to divide the nation - into Roma and non-Roma, as well as into metropolitan and provincial residents.
The National Roma Self-Government of Hungary also issued a statement: “We are convinced that public statements - especially by public figures in leading positions - have a significant impact on public thinking. That is why it is particularly important that these statements do not create an impression that could stigmatize any community. Therefore, with all due respect, we ask Minister János Lázár to correct the misunderstood and unsuccessful formulation and to clearly confirm that he views the Roma community as a partner of the government“.
The minister himself apologized publicly two days later at an event in the city of Kaposvár, the Hungarian news portal “Telex“ reported. “I apologize for this, I am truly sorry”, he said, adding that he wanted to personally ask for forgiveness from the Hungarian Roma who felt hurt by his words. At the event, he thanked the community for what he described as decades of shared struggle and cooperation. He also clarified that he believes that everyone who is able to work should do so and that the government's responsibility is to create jobs for Hungarian citizens, regardless of origin, not for immigrants. Lázár stressed that all forms of work deserve respect, including cleaning work. "Respect for workers and respect for cleaning staff too," he concluded his statement.
The minister separately insisted, quoted by the newspaper "Modár Nemzet", that his intention was to highlight the importance of work and inclusion, not to offend. He accused the opposition of deliberately interpreting his words as a racial issue, but added that he wanted to "set things right". According to Lászlár, the future of Hungary depends on the integration of all Hungarian citizens into the labor market, regardless of their ethnicity.
The scandal could lead to big problems for the ruling Fidesz party, notes the “Hungarian Observer“. The ruling party has a rather complicated relationship with the Roma population. Although the party is nationalist, it seeks to be popular among Hungarian Roma as an electoral resource. In recent years, Fidesz has actively tried to gain the trust of this segment of the Hungarian population by using Roma influencers. In addition, Roma communities in the countryside are often vulnerable and dependent on local influential figures from the ruling parties. They often have no choice but to support Fidesz, as it has established a system of clientelism in a number of areas in the country, the publication claims. The threat from the far-right parties “Jobbik“ or “Our Homeland“ often push Roma voters towards Fidesz as the lesser evil.
According to opposition journalist Szobolcs Serretio, “the derailment of the Minister of Transport“ is no coincidence, but follows directly from the radicalizing rhetoric of his party and boss – Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. “From Lázár's mouth poured out what he and a large part of his political community think about society: that it is made up of subjects, not citizens. This is a feudal, almost caste-like way of thinking that determines every place in the division of labor. Where the awards are not based on merit, but on loyalty, if there is any," he told the radio "Modyar Hang".
“A significant part of Hungary's Roma population, numbering hundreds of thousands, lives in the areas that will decide the elections, and in the last elections the vast majority of them supported FIDES“, commented Hungarian political scientist Daniel Rona. According to him, it can be said that without the support of the vast majority of Roma, it is unlikely that FIDES will be able to stay in power after the upcoming elections. “It is no coincidence that Lázár apologized so openly and repeatedly. The impact of the blunder will be determined by the further reaction of the ruling party, Viktor Orbán, the "Tisza" party and the Roma community. It is certain, however, that if Fidesz is defeated in the April elections, one, and perhaps even the first target of the inevitable search for a scapegoat will be János Lázár, the expert added.
The extent to which these mistakes will affect support for Fidesz among the Roma or the general population is unpredictable at this stage. But the noise and, more importantly, the rapid course correction by the ruling party, seem to indicate that, due to the truly competitive nature of this year's elections, the blunders are having greater consequences for Fidesz than before.