IndustriAll Europe, together with our Hungarian affiliates, are celebrating Sunday’s emphatic defeat of Viktor Orbán and the Fidesz government by the opposition party, Tisza. This election is one of the most consequential for Europe in recent times, as highlighted at our Congress in Budapest less than a year ago.
The 16-year tenure of Viktor Orbán posed many challenges for Hungary’s working families. Orbán’s regime aligned itself with employers, and its anti-worker and anti-union strategies led to widespread protests.
The strong will shown in the high election participation of Hungarian society to stand up against autocracy and cronyism has led to an overwhelmingly clear mandate to rebuild a democratic, inclusive society. The way Tisza won is a good example that organising by meeting people, listening to people, and putting people at the centre of activities, works. It is a valuable learning experience also for the trade union movement — organising at its finest.
We call on the incoming Hungarian government to engage in genuine social dialogue and to implement the EU social acquis in a progressive manner. Your members, including Hungarian nationals and migrants, deserve better rights and pay, particularly those employed by foreign multinationals.
As we made clear at our Congress in Budapest last June, industriAll Europe has always defended Hungary’s place as an integral part of the European community at both government and trade union level. With the people’s firm rejection of autocracy, you can restore democracy and uphold the rule of law. Ultimately, your country can continue to progress with the support of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds.
We wish all workers in the industries we represent in Hungary the strength and determination to seize this renewed opportunity for strong workers’ rights, now finally reopened by the rejection of an autocratic, illiberal, and corrupt system. Together with you, we will remain vigilant to ensure that the newly elected leader puts his campaign promises into action.
Letter sent by industriAll Europe