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Hungary’s prime minister could be voted out of office after twelve years. But even after being voted out, he would still have great influence.
In the café of the Matthias Corvinus College in Budapest, MCC for short, there are superlatives to go with the cappuccino. “We get the opportunity here to become the best version of ourselves,” says 22-year-old business student Marcell Dengei.
The MCC is the largest talent factory in Central Europe, says Balacs Orban. Although he is not related to Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, he is one of his most important advisers. And he is President of the MCC Board of Trustees. The aim is to form a political, economic and cultural elite in Hungary. This requires a strengthening of patriotic thinking.
Legend:
Hungary will elect a new government this Sunday. Viktor Orban could be voted out of office after 12 years. The government opponents have joined forces and are hot on the heels of Orban’s Fidesz party in the polls.
key stone
What Balacs Orban means by that: The students who live free of charge in a chic Budapest quarter, who attend courses in leadership or law or diplomacy and, more or less incidentally, establish an exclusive network with ministers, state secretaries and business people – these MCC graduates should one day decide for Hungary insert.
But for which Hungary? For the conservative, illiberal of Viktor Orban? There is no pressure whatsoever, says economics student Dengei. The guest list of the MCC leaves a different impression: Conservative and ultra-conservative thinkers dominate. And among the teachers, a striking number have remarkably good connections to the Orban government.
Legend:
Marcell Dengei (right) and Boton Szabo see Matthias Corvinus College as their great opportunity.
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On the other hand, there are no internationally renowned teachers at the elite school, says Jozsef Palinkas. He was formerly Orban’s education minister, later president of the Academy of Sciences; today he is an Orban critic: “The MCC is more of a propaganda machine than an elite school.” And it is a convenient landing place for former ministers or state secretaries. Little work, high pay.
Deferred government funds
The MCC has been filthy rich since last year. The government transferred the equivalent of two billion francs to the private foundation that runs the MCC. Two billion state assets placed in private hands. Two billion francs that no longer belong to Hungarian citizens.
A cheek, says Orban’s former education minister: “The MCC didn’t get the billions because of its performance, but because of its loyalty to the Orban government.” Balacs Orban, the president of the wealthy foundation, of course sees things differently. It was about making the MCC more independent; also independent of the Orban government. This also applies to other universities.
Even if Viktor Orban were voted out, these people will continue to influence universities for a long time.
The Hungarian government has not only transferred a large amount of assets to the MCC Foundation. It has also privatized eleven state universities. They will also be run by foundations in the future. More independence for universities, that sounds good. But it doesn’t sound particularly credible coming from a foundation president who is also one of Orban’s most important advisers.
Power over money and positions
And it sounds even less credible when you look at who sits on the boards of trustees of the MCC and the privatized universities. “I don’t know a person on these foundation boards who isn’t loyal to Orban,” says Palinkas, the former education minister. That is really worrying. Because the board of trustees are elected for life: “Even if Orban were voted out, these people will still have an influence on the universities for a long time.”
With the lavishly funded university foundations, Orban secures power and influence for himself and his family. power over lots of money, power over posts; and influence what future elites learn.