We answered questions from viewers. Móni asked whether the so-called “flying start” is still going on. We tried to explain to her as well what the real economic situation in Hungary looks like today. Because it’s not as simple as “Lőrinc and the others stole everything and that’s it.” You see, this is a much more complex issue than that 😘
– Is the “flying start” still ongoing?
– Absolutely. As far as I’m concerned, it still is.
– And to answer this seriously: Viktor himself also said that the 2025 budget was clearly built on the assumption that Russia and Ukraine would make peace with each other, and that this war, which is happening right next to us, not very far away, would no longer continue to affect the Hungarian economy—just as it affects the economy of every European country, given that the European Union is pouring EU citizens’ money into a war.
Orbán also said that economic growth could have been higher if they had not introduced the personal income tax exemption for mothers with two and three children, and if they had not increased—indeed doubled—the family tax allowances, and if there had not been the 3% subsidized loan either.
So if these benefits and population-supporting measures had not been introduced, growth really would have been higher. But they accepted that instead it would stagnate, in exchange for giving support directly to Hungarian people.
Honestly, I’m also just stagnating like this. And I would have chosen this option anyway.
👉 Propaganda function:
The goal is not to explain why there is no growth, but to suggest that “in theory there is growth — you just can’t see it.”
2️⃣ “The budget was built on peace” → retroactive excuse-making
Technique: ex post rationalization
The 2025 budget was based on an assumption (“there will be peace”), not on proper risk analysis.
👉 Message:
The government did not make a mistake → the world went wrong.
👉 Reality:
A responsible budget is not built on a single geopolitical assumption.
3️⃣ “Every European country is suffering” → collective absolution
Technique: relativization
If everyone is doing badly, then no one is responsible.
👉 Propaganda function:
Hungary’s specific economic problems (inflation, collapse in investment, real wage volatility) disappear into the “European noise.”
4️⃣ “The EU is pouring money into the war” → scapegoating
Technique: external enemy narrative
The EU = a money-burning war machine
Hungary = an innocent victim
👉 Omitted facts:
- EU funds were withheld not because of the war, but due to rule-of-law issues
- Energy and inflation shocks were amplified by domestic policy decisions
5️⃣ “Growth could have been higher, but we chose to give to people” → false dilemma
Technique:
👉 either economic growth
👉 or family support
As if the two were mutually exclusive.
👉 Propaganda function:
Stagnation is reframed as a moral virtue:
“It doesn’t matter that it’s not growing — at least we are good people.”
6️⃣ “If we hadn’t given it, growth would have been higher” → preemptive defense
This is a built-in shield against criticism:
- If there is no growth → it was a conscious choice
- If you criticize it → you are anti-family
👉 This is classic emotional blackmail.
7️⃣ “I would have chosen this too” → personal identification
Technique: subjective closure
The ending offers not data, not arguments, but emotion.
👉 Goal:
To stop the audience from thinking further and encourage identification instead.
🔚 Overall picture – what is really happening?
This text:
- does not explain — it absolves
- does not measure — it tells stories
- does not seek accountability — it deflects
- does not invite debate — it sets a moral trap
Stagnation is no longer failure, but a “noble sacrifice.”
A planning error is no longer an error, but “preparing for peace.”
Criticism is no longer legitimate, but “anti-family.”
This is not economic analysis, but political self-justification — after the fact.