Loose Canon Aboard – Dr. József Ángyán
Country Magazine – Magazine of Hungary - Interview, 2012 november

Waging a Quixotic war against the powers that be, the university professor turned MP is a catalytic figure of Hungarian politics. Disregarded by those most concerned, his critical observations about the sly reshuffling of leasehold land have raised eyebrows in government circles and created media hype.

Dr. Ángyán clearly remembers an agreement with the prime minister that small scale family farms and cooperative efforts would enjoy priority and subsidies, to be able to stay afloat and complete. The present agricultural policy, however, is a complete u-turn from that standpoint, backing up large investors, deregulating sate farms into the hands of interest groups, paving the way for a nouveau aristocracy. The law serves the vested interests of greedy capitalists, whatever their political standing. The case in point: they never opt for the same piece of land, there are no clashing interests. Deals are made behind the scenes.

Professor Ángyán suspects a massive network of oligarchs, exercising their power not so much through traditional ways of corruption – bribes and nepotism – but through their proxies infiltrating the political system. He reckons that the main problem that might lead to the downfall of government is their immense greed, their despicably capitalising on the two-third majority and trust from the constituents, who elected them in hope of correcting what was wrong with the country. Now they pathetically fall short of all expectations, changing everything for the worse, ransacking the nation. People are not stupid though, at one point they will stand up for it.

Dr. Ángyán has become untouchable, a political leper in his party. But he doesn’t care. He might be sidestepped but his criticism cannot be shunned.