GWUAN 2025 06. 07.
Militarization in a captured state, beyond irregular governance
Vera Zalka is part of the system critical society of Hungary, this has been articulated in several organizations since 1989 (ESZMÉLET periodical and friends, Karl Marx Society, WSF/ESF/PS2, IPA,IPB, GWUAN and connected PEACE movements)
1. I start to tell some words about the atmosphere of the Hungarian society. All the process of the Orbanian regime that raped the Hungarian educational system (same way the health care and social aid system),
has spent enormous amounts of money to formulate the new wealthy bourgeois economic participants of the regime, loyal to Viktor Orbán and his ruling party.
We live in a captured state regime, where the ruling party and personality cult of Orbán is „governing”, influencing, destroying our lives and the souls of people.
No future vision for many. More than 500 thousand people left Hungary for political, economic reasons, also for better education and better working conditions.
Our diversified industry and agriculture became monocultural. This started right after the 1989 changes, but Orbán has perfected it to his personal interests.
The Hungarian army had to renew its tools after leaving the Warsaw pact.
Hungary joined NATO in 1999, joined the EU in 2004. 10 new countries joined at the same time.
In 2005 the compulsory military service was abolished in Hungary.
In both World Wars Hungary was on the wrong side. Many were engaged Never again war in Europe and in other parts of the world.
It was so for a long time after 1945 in Europe.
…but looking the geographical position of Hungary: to the south our neighbour Yugoslavia found itself in a terrible brother killing situation with consequenses that last until now.
This was not enough. After high internal tensions and conflicts (foreign intervention) the war has started on the territory of Ukraine, our Eastern border neighbour country.
Both refugee waves have shaken the Hungarian society.
Orbán used this situation to his individual and party propaganda reasons,
which is shameful from one part. From the other part as so close country
to Ukraine Hungary has to be neutral and not on the side of weapon sending to an „ever lasting” war. The EU „common values” about sending weapons can be questioned. (not in an orbanian way, but other aspects and values).
Ordinary people would have thought normally and with solidarity to the sufferings of neighbours.
The politics and some polititians use the war near us to create fear, to construct enemy image according to their individual political needs.
Not long ago there were two big poster campaign (as a tool to influence the people.)
„You are in danger”. „We will protect you”. „We are the only ones who can protect you”. was the message
In 2026 April there will be parlamentary elections.
Many want to change the already 3rd governance of O.V. A new character appeared on the scene who can affect many people. The ruling government feels itself in danger.
A new Defence minister arrived to the cabinet of Orbán and let me tell you 2 quotations from him :
„…the development of the Armed forces is needed, so that the operational value and combat readiness of the Hungarian Defence Forces are as high as possible”.
Last week he said : „Lets brake with the Peace mentality and move to the phase zero on the road to war”
He enjoyes Orbán’s trust and full amount needed is to his disposal for the diversified projects.
The Hungarian government has embarked on a significant military development, already more than meeting the NATO expectations, and military spending has recently expended 2 % of GDP (taxpayers fund).
– Big poster campaigns
– Questionnaire asking the people about war and peace, with such suggested answer options that support Orbán’s politics who is pretending to be a Peace politician, who is the only one people can count on.
– Young people are invited to the army as the best employer, fantastic career, with above avarage wages.
– Military people are welcome to schools to talk about the topic with children aged 13-18.
In 2024 military education classes were introduced in 12 schools. 16 hours theory and 16 hours practical training. By now in 141 schools military trained soldiers as soldier „teachers” lead these classes.
Also new Cadet training was introduced in several schools.
In the past few years there were teachers protests (strikes, civil disobediance and demostration series) because of loosing autonomy of schools and the freedom of teaching and restriction of their rights. Also the centralised curriculum left a lot to be desired as the useless administration put on them. half of the teachers society joined. The protest was crushed. The teach About ers control system is rather political than helpful.
The school directors nowadays are appointed from above.
These directors are welcoming the patriotic education of „soldier teachers”.
Soon summer vacations are coming and there is a great offer of millitary camps, various for different prices and some are subsidised by the state. See more information:https://militarytabor.hu , http://honvedelmitabor.hu , http://castrumhungarikum.hu
Horrifying and for me sad photos how children enjoy to be like a real soldier. It is not an imaginatory game. It is training with real weapons, tanks, military living conditions. Terrible. And the mentality they learn there.
No matter what the powerful say three associations were formulated
-„Tanítanék” is a group of teachers who were fired for participating in strike and civil disobedience. Many teachers, parents and people who agree support them or join the group. They are not giving up. The lawsuit in which the teachers opposed against their dismissal is still going on.
-The other group is „Szülői Hang” „The voice of parents”
Here they discuss all the anomalies that occure in schools, about education and any topic they feel needed to bring up. They organize small attention grabbing demonstration „Zebra szerda”
-Last but not least very brave school students formed their student organization to be solidary with their loved and respected teachers. Organized various demonstrations and other actions, as initiators inviting the 2 above groups and many civil NGOs sympatizing with them.
I approached them with the topic of Militarization of schools. „The voice of parents” team suggested to consult on it.
The teachers and students group should be adressed again.
The topic should be the subject of public debate!
The majority of people live from month to the next month with many struggles in keeping their families on surface.
The role of propaganda and political advertizing (big posters in every street all over the country, daily papers whole page big ads, TV, Radio every hour the same military topic agitation).
Muddling of the oposition. Saying :„The oposition wants the continuation of the war in Ukraine. They want to drag us into the war.”
This whole process is to transfer the society of peaceful and working people to varrior mentality, national community, that can be called at any time to the service and defence of homeland.
The children from very young age cannot withdraw themselves from hearing all of this every day, everywhere. The parents who believe that we are in danger also have fears and it influences the souls and tranqility of children. Children have fears, and if they hear who is the enemy, who the adults hate or are angry with children know this and this influences them in an undesirable way.
The list of lies and stupidities that the people are fed with daily regularity is long. Some get information themselves, but many don’t have time and energy to do so.
A lot of money from the budget is spent on the military „developments”, propaganda, school programs, and in the upper education tendences of the educational changes aligned with military objectives can be seen.
But who is the enemy
1). Orbán is so afraid of his own people a). many give up believing him (eyes are getting to be open slowly) b) and the arch enemy : those rotten intelligence, who opposed him and never obeyed.
2). Is there a foreign enemy? (unknown for me) As we could hear in our zoom meeting, they can create any „nuance” that can break out a conflict or war. This is my very private opinion.
Hungarians (NATO lovers) believe Putin can attack us. Romania and Ukraine is a gunpowder keg for many, because of the Hungarian minorities living in the neighbouring countries. (language use law, national identity,
free life of nationalities is problematic).
Neutrality and a lot of negotiations is the only way for us in this aspect, living very close to the two European wars after 1945.
And of course the culture of peace and cooperation without exclusion of any country in Europe. (This concerns other parts of the world as well)
Cooperation and mutual assistance, fair trade are the values we have to teach to our children. Also that not all natural resources of the world,
other continents and countries belong to the Northern developed world.
A rethinking of all segments of human life (including economy and transportation) is needed.
It can’t go on with such a wasteful, ecological destructive way, over- production and overconsumption , with all these wars, militarization destroying mentality and future of young generations.