Who is responsible?

Hungary has been embroiled in a heated debate over several social issues in recent weeks, but a controversial presidential pardon has brought child protection to the forefront.

The controversy has shaken the ruling party, leading to the resignation of the former state president, who was previously a minister in the ruling party, as well as the withdrawal of the former justice minister and a minister-turned-church leader who has also given up part of his church position.

Influencers, previously less significant in politics, have made a strong showing in the public debate, organizing mass protests to highlight the shortcomings of the state in operating the child protection system.

Hungary has been a multi-party democracy since 1989 in terms of its parliamentary structure, but there have been no significant changes in the extensive systems that primarily affect the quality of life of society (healthcare, pension system, child protection, public transportation, housing, social benefits, public education). This is mainly because the parties that hold real government decision-making power, fearing electoral defeat and loss of votes, have not focused on the systems as a whole and their impact on related systems, but have instead sought to make the operation more bearable through changes in well-communicable sub-areas.

Based on press reports and police and court documents from the public debate on child protection, it can be established that sexual violence against children was already taking place in 2004 in the children’s institution whose director was not charged until 2017 and had led the institution for 26 years.

The minority parties also became active during the scandal, demanding an apology from the ruling party to the victims, but these parties or their predecessors were also in parliamentary or, in some cases, government positions in 2004 and should have been responsible for governing in relation to child protection.

If we examine who held real government positions in Hungary from 2004 onwards, we can see the following picture:

Between 2004 and 2010, the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) and, until 2009, the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) governed in coalition, with Péter Medgyessy (2004-2005), Ferenc Gyurcsány (2005-2009), and Gordon Bajnai (2009-2010) as prime ministers.

The SZDSZ is no longer a parliamentary party and has not been active since 2013. It was deleted from the party register in 2019.

Ferenc Gyurcsány founded the Democratic Coalition (DK) in 2011 and currently operates as a minority parliamentary party.

Since 2010, Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union (Fidesz) and the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) have been in government, with Viktor Orbán as Prime Minister.

Based on 2004 data, approximately 23,000 children lived in foster homes or with foster parents in Hungary. Of these:

Approximately 16,000 children in foster homes
Approximately 7,000 children with foster parents

It is important to note that these figures are estimates, and the real number of children in foster homes or with foster parents may have been higher or lower.

The number of children living in foster homes has decreased significantly in recent years. In 2022, approximately 4,500 children lived in foster homes and approximately 5,500 children lived with foster parents.

According to social workers, a significant proportion of former state wards become isolated from society and are threatened by individual disadvantages such as learning difficulties, developmental and behavioral disorders, health problems, and the addictions that develop as a result of these, such as alcohol, drug and gambling addiction.

It is important to note that these disadvantages and addictions are not characteristic of all children living in foster homes. There are also children who have to cope with fewer disadvantages and who do not suffer from addiction.

The current system does not primarily lack the appropriate legal regulation, but the system, which has been underfunded for decades, is unable to meet the requirements. There is a lack of an objective control system, and the workforce available for low wages cannot be further burdened professionally and physically.

In most foster homes, the professionals working there do everything they can to ensure that the children receive adequate care and are prepared for adult life.

However, the biggest problem is that there is no political or professional dialogue in Hungary about reforming the systems that affect society as a whole. The parties involved in politics believe themselves to be infallible and consider anyone who does not think