A false alarm: speculation on a possible HUXIT

HUNGARY - In Brief 03 Jul 2016 by Istvan Racz

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The UK's recent Brexit vote has apparently sparked an array of speculations by politicians, analysts and the media, to a great extent liberating people's imagination, amidst the conditions of a general uncertainty about future prospects. One distinct category of such speculations has been the proliferation of theories about the potential disintegration of the EU, as Eurosceptic parties and governments might try to lead some member states out of the EU, encouraged by an alleged rebellious spirit developing within the EU.We are picking up this theme because Hungary is often referred to as one of the obvious candidates for an exit from the EU in this context, simply because PM Orbán's government tends to be in an almost permanent conflict with Brussels on a number of issues, most lately on migration policies. HUXIT speculations seem to get ample reinforcement from talk by Hungarian opposition forces, which have been carefully nurturing the idea that PM Orbán's hidden intention is to lead his nation out of the EU. And in recent days, media stories (including one on Reuters two days ago) also used as evidence a few statements made by leading government figures, such as the PM Orbán himself saying that the Brexit vote was a consequence of poor EU policies and attempts by the EU to concentrate power to Brussels, reducing the role of member states' national authority, and his powerful cabinet minister Mr. Lázár saying that at a referendum similar to the Brexit vote, he would either refrain or possibly vote for 'leave', given the existing state of affairs within the EU.On this issue, we want to make it clear that in our view, Hungary, including its government, is standing very ...