A question of honor

International Herald Tribune ^ | September 20, 2006 | Robin Shepherd

[lizol]

A question of honor

Robin Shepherd International Herald Tribune

Published: September 20, 2006

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia Rarely has a modern European leader been more brazen in his contempt for basic standards of political decency. After Hungary's socialist prime minister, Ferenc Gyurcsany, admitted that he had secured re-election earlier this year after lying to voters about the true state of the economy "morning, evening and night" for the whole of his premiership, it is difficult to know whether one should be more appalled by his admission or by the astonishing fact that he is now trying to make political capital out of it.

"The real issue in Hungarian politics today," Gyurcsany wrote in his blog, "is not who lied and when, but who is able to put an end to this ... who can face up to the lies and half-truths of the past 16 years." In other words, he seems to be saying, you can trust me now because, unlike everyone else in politics, I'm honest about having been a liar. He has pointedly refused to resign.

It is hardly news that Hungary, with a budget deficit expected to exceed 10 percent of gross domestic product this year, is Central and Eastern Europe's economic basket case. Nor is it surprising that a government should attempt to cover up the reality of its own mismanagement, especially approaching an election.