My response to Telex, who are still very angry that Viktor Orbán and Péter Szijjártó brought two Hungarian prisoners of war home. It is sad that even in the most basic situations there isn’t enough goodwill in some people to simply rejoice together that the lives of our fellow Hungarians were saved.
Don’t you think it is in poor taste that these returned prisoners of war are then paraded in the Fidesz campaign?
I find it very unfortunate that even in matters like this we cannot reach some minimal common ground. Without meaning to offend you, I believe that the fact we were able to bring these people home from what was practically the jaws of death is, first of all, an incredible achievement and something truly remarkable.
And secondly, when we invite these people — and we did invite them — and the gentleman who attended the Digital Civic Circle gathering came willingly and gladly, it is obvious that he is grateful to Hungary. He expressed this gratitude with his presence as well, and naturally he is grateful to the current Hungarian government. He was there at the Digital Civic Circle event.
Péter Szijjártó and Viktor Orbán clearly played a role in this, as it was their work that allowed Hungary to maintain a peace-oriented position over the past years. Without that stance, I am convinced we would not have been able to bring these two men home.
I was very happy that we could celebrate together with them and share the joy that they are here. And, sorry to say, I do not consider this a propaganda tool at all. Celebrating together that, through a peace-oriented policy, we were able to bring someone back to Hungary from the jaws of death is a fantastic shared success.
And by the way, I have not really seen these gentlemen appearing much in public in recent days or weeks, and if that is how they prefer it, then I think that is perfectly fine.
1️⃣ Building a Moral Position
(moral framing / moral high ground)
Excerpt
“It is sad that even in the most basic situations some people cannot find it in themselves to rejoice together over the saving of our fellow citizens’ lives.”
Technique
The response places the debate in a moral framework.
The discussion is no longer about whether something is propaganda or not, but about:
➡️ whether we are capable of rejoicing over the rescue of Hungarian citizens.
Goal
- to make the question appear morally problematic
- to portray the journalist’s criticism as insensitive
Effect
The audience may feel that:
- those who criticize → are not happy about the rescued people.
2️⃣ Reframing the Question
(reframing)
Telex question
“Isn’t it distasteful that the returned prisoners of war are then showcased in the Fidesz campaign?”
Alexandra’s response
“This is a fantastic achievement and a fantastic thing.”
Technique
The response does not address the campaign usage, but instead focuses on:
➡️ the success of the rescue.
This is classic reframing.
Goal
to change the subject of the debate:
propaganda issue →
successful diplomacy
3️⃣ Emotional Delegitimization of the Criticism
(emotional delegitimization)
Excerpt
“It is sad that we cannot even find some minimal common ground on issues like this.”
Technique
Instead of refuting the criticism substantively, it is presented as:
➡️ a negative attitude.
Goal
to emotionally discredit the journalist’s position.
4️⃣ The Gratitude Narrative
(gratitude framing)
Excerpt
“He is obviously grateful to Hungary.”
Technique
The story is framed through gratitude.
This is a strong emotional communication tool:
- a rescued person
- grateful to his country
Goal
to build positive legitimacy.
Effect
The audience can more easily identify with the situation:
➡️ “something good happened.”
5️⃣ The Narrative of Political Credit
(credit claiming)
Excerpt
“Orbán Viktor and Péter Szijjártó clearly had a role in this.”
Technique
The success is linked to specific political actors.
Goal
to present the diplomatic outcome as:
➡️ a governmental achievement.
6️⃣ The “Pro-Peace Policy” Narrative
(policy justification framing)
Excerpt
“Without maintaining a pro-peace position in recent years, I am sure we would not have been able to bring these two people home.”
Technique
The event is placed into a broader political narrative:
➡️ pro-peace policy = saving lives.
Goal
to justify the government’s policy toward the war in Ukraine.
7️⃣ Rejecting the Propaganda Accusation
(denial framing)
Excerpt
“I absolutely do not consider this a propaganda tool.”
Technique
A simple categorical denial.
No detailed argumentation is provided.
Goal
to close the debate.
What Is Really Interesting in This Exchange
In reality, two different narratives collide.
Telex’s narrative
➡️ political campaign usage
Alexandra’s narrative
➡️ saving Hungarian lives
This is a typical communication conflict:
| Telex framing | Alexandra framing |
|---|---|
| campaign | saving lives |
| propaganda | diplomatic success |
| political exploitation | shared national celebration |
Rhetorical Evaluation
From a communication perspective, Alexandra’s response has:
Strong elements
- emotional framing
- positive narrative
- moral positioning
Weak elements
- partially avoids answering the question
- repetition
- few concrete details
✔ Summary
Alexandra’s response is a classic example of political crisis communication:
- establishing a moral framework
- reframing the debate
- telling a positive story
- emphasizing political credit
The real conflict in the exchange is not about the factual claims, but about the fact that the two sides are speaking about the same event within completely different frames.
