Lázár Faces Protests, Fields Unusual Questions During Heated Town Halls
A wave of disruption marked recent public appearances by Hungarian Transport Minister János Lázár, as town hall meetings in Győr and Pécel were met with vocal opposition and a range of unexpected inquiries. The events, collectively referred to as “Lázárinfo” sessions, revealed a politician navigating a challenging political landscape ahead of the April 13 elections, responding to criticism with both defiance and a touch of levity.
The atmosphere at both Győr and Pécel was immediately contentious. Reports indicate that attendees repeatedly shouted and used whistles to express their discontent, prompting Lázár to admonish what he termed “pro-Ukrainian gentlemen” and warn that disruptive behavior “dishonors the death of the nine thousand and twenty-year-old” – a reference to Ukrainian casualties in the ongoing war. He further stated, “They are the policemen, take a good look at them,” as audience members protested his statement.
Lázár characterized the opposition as an attempt by “The Tiszas” – a reference to political rival Péter Magyar and his supporters – to stifle free expression. “The Tiszas don’t want the other person to be able to express their opinion freely, they came here to stifle the words of the people of Pécel and me. But that’s impossible,” he asserted. Protesters responded with chants of “filthy Fidesz,” which Lázár countered by leading the crowd in chants of “go Hungary, go Fidesz!”
Beyond the protests, the sessions were punctuated by a series of unusual questions. At the beginning of the Pécel forum, Lázár was repeatedly pressed about the identity of “Uncle Zsolti,” initially promising to address the query later, but ultimately responding with a dismissive, “it may be you, if you are so sought after.”
Turning to governance, Lázár defended his party’s record, stating that “there was more good than bad” in the last fifteen years. He outlined key policy proposals, including a minimum wage of 1,000 euros, an average salary of 1 million Hungarian forints, and the preservation of tax benefits for families with three children. He emphasized a focus on a “work-based society,” stating there was no need for lengthy policy documents, as the program’s core tenet was employment for those capable of working.
A significant portion of Lázár’s remarks centered on the conflict in Ukraine, repeatedly emphasizing that “anyone who is on Ukraine’s side is the enemy of the Hungarians.” He urged citizens to sign a national petition, despite ongoing protests from pro-Ukraine supporters.
The minister also addressed local concerns, specifically regarding planned road expansions, responding to criticism from Gábor Nemes, a local candidate from the DK party. Lázár argued that improved infrastructure would inevitably lead to increased car ownership, citing statistics that Hungary is projected to have 5 million cars in circulation soon, and that average meat consumption has risen from 53 kilograms in 2010 to 68 kilograms in 2024. “And not all of this is eaten by Viktor Orbán – just to point out the physical differences here,” he quipped, suggesting a correlation between rising living standards and increased consumption.
The Pécel forum also saw moments of levity and unexpected tangents. During a discussion about the renovation of Ráday Castle, Lázár suggested that anyone who had been drinking alcohol should leave the room. He then fielded questions about his favorite football team – initially choosing Real Madrid before correcting himself to support Újpest – and a suggestion that state-run television channels should replace political programming with “cat videos.”
Responding to the latter, Lázár acknowledged the desire for less political content but argued it was unrealistic given the current geopolitical climate. He recounted a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who reportedly stated Russia would “never give up on Ukraine,” emphasizing the ongoing threat of war and the need for preparedness.
Acknowledging the competitive nature of the upcoming elections, Lázár stated, “The situation is 50-50, no one can say what the outcome of the elections will be.” Despite the uncertainty, he expressed optimism, stating, “no matter what happens, the sun will still shine the next day, because everyone is a Hungarian in this country,” and called for a return to peace on April 13. He dismissed the possibility of unrest from the opposition, stating, “I don’t think that the loser – who will be the Tisza Party – would have an interest in plunging the country into chaos and bringing people to the streets.”
However, Lázár later suggested that the disruptive behavior of opposition supporters was, paradoxically, beneficial to Fidesz. “Fidesz does not need more help than what the Tiszas did here. Come to every Lázárinfo, behave like this – they themselves will overthrow him and this will take Péter Magyar to the grave,” he stated, believing that such “terror” effectively mobilizes his party’s base. He described himself as “undeterred,” though his fatigue was subtly hinted at by a repeated slip of the tongue, substituting “pan” for “frying pan.”
In a final, symbolic gesture, a member of the audience presented Lázár with a bag of oranges, which he remarked were “very beautiful and shiny in 2010, but now they are rotten.” He ultimately did not reveal the identity of “Uncle Zsolti,” despite his earlier promise.
The events followed a similar pattern at Lázár’s appearance in Győr the previous day, where opponents also voiced their dissent with chants of “filthy Fidesz.” Lázár responded to the Győr protests, stating, “The persuasive power of Lázárinfo is also shown by the fact that some people in Győr had to pour it down their throats to protect themselves from the duma.” He also addressed a question from Telex regarding the government’s handling of toxic air concerns at the Samsung factory in Göd, asserting that the government office had performed an “excellent job” in the matter.
