Hungarian Foreign Affairs Committee President Blames Russia for No Peace in Tusványos Speech

The 34th Bálványos Summer Free University and Student Camp, known as Tusványos, officially kicked off on Wednesday with an opening ceremony featuring Zsolt Németh, co-founder and President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian National Assembly; Lőrinc Nacsa, State Secretary for National Policy; Zsolt Butyka, Mayor of Băile Tușnad (Tusnádfürdő); Tibor Toró, Executive President of the Transylvanian Hungarian National Council; and David Campanale, co-founder of the festival.

Before the ceremony began, the crowd and participants observed a minute of silence in memory of Árpád Potápi, the late State Secretary for National Policy, who passed away in October 2024.

The event opened with a speech by Zsolt Butyka, who wished for constructive dialogues and debates throughout the duration of Tusványos.

Failed Peace Efforts

In his remarks, Zsolt Németh emphasized that the Hungarian government defines itself as both democratic and sovereign. According to him, these two principles walk hand in hand, as both reflect the will of the people. He underlined a firm stance against foreign interference—whether Eastern or Western. Németh noted that a third element has recently joined these two: ‘patriotic’, as reflected in the establishment of the European political group Patriots for Europe. ‘Patriots, unite!’ Németh urged, adding that the group is growing stronger by the day.

The President of the Hungarian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee also rejected claims that the government is anti-European. ‘We are pro-European in a different way,’ he said, stressing that Hungary supports the idea of a Europe of nations. ‘We are not anti-Ukrainian,’ he continued, adding that Hungary seeks good relations with all neighbouring countries—but this is not possible if minority rights are being restricted. ‘Nor are we pro-Russian, or radicals,’ Németh pointed out. ‘We are intolerant of all forms of anti-minority, antisemitic, and anti-Hungarian sentiments.’

Turning to the challenges facing Europe and Hungary, Németh first mentioned the ‘Trump tornado’, which, he said, affects every corner of the world. He characterized its main tool as tariff diplomacy. Németh argued that the idea of a multipolar world order is currently being marginalized, as US dominance becomes increasingly entrenched in global politics. As a result, he concluded, alliance commitment is inevitable—for both Europe and Hungary.

Addressing the war in Ukraine, Németh expressed regret that Donald Trump’s peace efforts had failed. ‘Russian responsibility in this failure is becoming increasingly clear,’ he said. He warned that a protracted war is now likely and that escalating US–Russia tensions will place significant pressure on all European allies.

National Policy Is the Core of Tusványos

Regarding Romania’s super-election year, Németh remarked that the key lesson is the country’s inherent complexity. Referring to the controversy surrounding Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s statement ahead of the second round of Romania’s presidential election in May—widely interpreted as an endorsement of anti-Hungarian candidate George Simion—Németh stressed that the views of Transylvanian Hungarians must not be overlooked. He stated that Hungary remains open to deepening its partnership with Romania and noted that Prime Minister Orbán is expected to meet with Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.

In his speech, State Secretary for National Policy Lőrinc Nacsa emphasized that Tusványos has increasingly become a platform for dialogue, debate, inspiration, and the sharing of experiences. However, he said, the most important goal is to channel these experiences into concrete action. ‘That is the most important task of national policy,’ he underlined. According to Nacsa, since 2010, ‘the network of Hungarians within and beyond the country’s borders has become significantly tighter and more extensive.’ He highlighted the fundamental difference between the government and the opposition: the former stands for something, while the latter defines itself against something. ‘We stand for the Hungarian nation,’ he declared, adding that 2025 is the Year of Future Generations in Hungarian national policy.

In his address, David Campanale—co-founder of the summer camp and a journalist with the BBC for 30 years—recalled the year 1989 and the regime changes in Eastern Europe, describing them as an act of divine intervention in history. According to him, the central question today is whether we can remain faithful to the spirit of transformation that defined that era. ‘This is central to the heart of Tusványos,’ he noted. Campanale went on to say that the liberal world order cannot survive on Christian foundations and that Western Europe is currently facing a deep crisis. ‘We need to listen to the experience of Eastern Europe,’ he added.

Tibor Toró, Executive President of the Transylvanian Hungarian National Council, concluded by saying that Tusványos helps people understand what is happening around them. It helps them hear the true voice in a sea of lies—the truth behind the propaganda.

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