From ex-WAGs doing tell-all interviews to revelations that Hungarian oligarchs own zebras, the 2024-25-26 election campaign has been nuts so far and is likely to get even more bananas. Here are the most iconic quotes that have now entered the Hungarian politics lexicon for eternity. This article is continuously updated because no doubt someone will say something absolutely ridiculous soon enough.
"Zsírra szállt por" // "Dust on fat"
In the summer of 2024, Peter Magyar didn’t take a summer break like most politicians do – rather he went from hospital to hospital in the baking heat taking photos and videos of some of the truly horrible conditions. At one point one of the videos showed moldy-looking fan vents in the commercial kitchen of one of the hospitals. He said that staff had been complaining about the state of the vents and that parts of the ceiling were falling down but nothing had been done about it. Elsewhere in the hospital, toilets didn’t have toilet paper, soap or hand sanitiser. And in many places the AC didn’t work meaning patients were rotting away in 35-degree heat. I can personally attest to some truly horrific scenes in hospitals in Hungary, which is something Fidesz politicians should hang their head in shame about.
But no, running to Fidesz’s defence was the government spokesperson Eszter Vitályos who said it wasn’t mold but rather dust on fat stains.
Obviously half the nation burst out laughing because it hardly seems to make a difference!? Clean the damn things jeez.
"Szatjor fing" // "Bag of farts"
The President of Hungary — a guy called Tamas Sulyok — was trying to talk about hate speech in such a long-winded strange way that all anyone got out of it was was that he referenced the fact that he is sometimes called a bag of farts.
"Repülőrajt" // "Flying start"
As 2024 drew to a close, Orban was totally shell-shocked. As I’ve written before 2024 was an annus horribilis for Orban. The economy remained a dumsterfire and the “Peter problem” was no closer to being resolved. What to do in a crisis? Orban always returns to one tool: Promise that things will soon be OK. Stand by while things don’t become OK. Then promise with even greater confidence that things will soon be OK.
So, true to form, in January Orban put out a video to say that the economy was going off to a flying start.
It’s become a joke because obviously no such thing has happened and forecasts for the year don’t exactly indicate it will happen. Maybe next year?
"Hatvanpusztai pánikszoba" // "Panic room at Hatvanpuszta"
Hatvanpuszta is where the Orban family have a palatial ranch, and Peter was quoted as saying that they have things like zebras and lakes and libraries and family frescos and panic rooms there.
And it’s funny to imagine Orban rocking back and forth in a tizz over what to do about Peter in his panic room so the quote’s taken off.
"Vége van, kicsi!" // "It's over, little guy!"
In a truly grotesque scene, Fidesz’s Communications Director Tamas Menczer accosted Peter Magyar while he was trying to hand over Christmas gifts to children in a government care home. Peter was part of weeks-long tour of children’s care homes trying to uncover the appalling conditions and give gifts to the kids. Menczer walked up to him in front of all the cameras and got in his face. And an icon was born. Menczer kept saying “Vége van, kicsi!” (“It’s over, little guy!”) and the line took off. It became iconic because it is very much not over, Peter has pulled even further ahead in the polls since then. Now both sides use it against each other.
"Slim-fit-Latte-avokado"
In a speech where Orban was talking about how Fidesz needs to go about recruiting younger people, he said “We have to realise that in future generations there will essentially be only two positions … there will be liberals and there will be nationalists. And I have to say that there will be liberal, slim-fit, avocado-latte, allergen-free, self-satisfied politicians on one side, and on the other side there will be streetwise young people of nationalist sympathies, with both feet firmly on the ground.”
Right away it was taken as a slight on Peter Magyar as Peter is slim and wears tight-fitting clothing. So ever since then, slim-fit-latte-avokado has become a way to tease Orban’s ridiculous statement. Peter even posted a video of him making an avocado latte at his home.
"Poloskák" // "Stink bugs"
Orban jumped the shark at his March 15th speech commemorating the 1848 Hungarian revolution when he called people who don’t support Fidesz “stink bugs” that have overwintered and need to be eliminated during spring cleaning. It’s crazy for a Prime Minister on a national day of commemoration to be calling his fellow citizens bugs. Read my take on Je Suis Poloska! blowback.
"Bindzsisztán"
Bindzsisztán is the name for a completely fictional country, but if you say it in Hungary it will automatically be understood to be a euphemism for Hungary. Majka — a popular singer — released a song where the lead character (Orban) is given a truth serum by someone (Magyar) and reveals all of his corruption in a live TV interview. The song is a significant shift in how Orban is perceived because Majka was previously close to those close to the government, and this is the kind of song that reaches the masses. In the three months since it was released it has 20 million views. I wrote about the significance of Majka’s song here.
"Tégláról téglára" // "Brick by brick"
One of Peter Magyar’s first lines was “Lépésről lépésre, tégláról téglára visszavesszük a hazánkat,” which means “Step by step, brick by brick we will take back our home.” Saying “tégláról téglára” has become shorthand for Tisza supporters to show support, and is also an understanding that it will take time to undwin the damage that Fidesz has done.
"Ne féljetek!" // "Don't be afraid"
It’s hard to understand for people who don’t live in Hungary, but people can be fearful to speak out against Fidesz. Why? They could lose their job, their business may lose business, or they might even lose family / friends. Fidesz has been in power for so long and they don’t just control the federal government they have their fingers in many pies down to village level and across various sectors. If your boss said to you “You’re coming to Fidesz’s rally this weekend, right?” How are you meant to say no to that? If you speak out against Fidesz, you might lose work because a Fidesz supporter has won the government tender and hands out opportunities based on loyalty.
From the start, one of Peter Magyar’s big slogans has been “Don’t be afraid” — it’s literally in his Facebook name. It’s not just about not being afraid to turn up to a rally or show your support on social media, but it’s also about not being afraid of a post-Orban world and not being afraid to step out of Fidesz if you’re an insider wanting to defect.
This article is continuously updated.
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