Founding Manifesto

Budapest, 17 May 2003

Dátum: 2003-06-16 15:16:00, eredeti URL: http://archiv.fidesz.hu/index.php?Cikk=11723
KCMDB-be feltöltve: 2024-05-04 18:26:04.576183, Feltöltő: fidesz_hu_scraper_v2

In the second year of the new millennium, for the first time since the fall of communism, citizens of centre-right adherence bravely stood up, even after the general elections, for their values, for their creed and for continuing the constructive work begun during the previous government. They understood that the achievements of the joint efforts we have made in the past few years must be defended.

They have realised that they could not leave the protection of their interests to their elected representatives only, but they themselves had to act, as well. They moved and expressed their will: people in their hundreds of thousands made it known, on enthusiastic and peaceful demonstrations, that they have values to which they are committed. Their set of values and their resoluteness to act was expressed by the establishment of over ten thousand civic circles.

II

We, free and responsible citizens of Hungary, having recognised the call of Hungarians to renew public life, having learned from the experiences of the changes that happened since 1990, having the eternal order of justice, freedom and love in sight, we express our will to establish a union amongst ourselves.

As a result, Fidesz - Hungarian Civic Union is born today, awaiting citizens ready to take responsibility for the nation and sharing our values. We place the fundaments of our Union on the respect for Christian morals, freedom, order and natural law.

Our Union is a community that is open to all citizens of the nation, whichever group or community of our society they belong to. The aim of our Union is to create the conditions for the prosperity of Hungarian citizens and to strengthen the nation's sense of cohesion by following the traditions of Christian democracy and social market economy, as well as by joining the great family of the Europe's people's parties.

III

The moral basis of our Union is constituted by the perceptions and recognitions arising from the fallible human nature.

We profess that there exists a moral order that is above human will.

We profess that the truth is cognisable and can be turned into the starting point of public activity.

We profess that the human being is spirit, feelings and thoughts in the first place. Human life is not confined to consumption and to the fastest possible satisfaction of however attractive desires.

We profess that, although we are all frail and often erring beings, we have the ability for improvement and for moral perfection.

We profess that, following the decades of the dehumanising events of the 20th century leading to moral uncertainty, we are inevitably in need of spiritual and intellectual renewal.

We profess that one is responsible for one's own prosperity, as well as for that of the family and the nation one belongs to. Who is not ready to make the utmost for oneself, for the family or the homeland, will not appreciate whatever to be received from the family or the homeland, either.

IV

We believe that the ultimate goal and meaning of our efforts is joyful human living. Historical wisdom and unfortunate experiences prove that nobody can be forced for happiness, because that eventually leads to despotism. We may therefore only attempt creating the preconditions of a joyful life for the people.

We believe that welfare is at the basis of a joyful life, and we therefore believe in the ideal of a society which provides work for everyone wanting and able to work.

We believe that welfare is does not only mean bread, work, school, consumer goods, but also family, children, friends, national pride, love, solidarity and rejoice.

We believe that bread tastes better if there is somebody else to share with, the apartment is more comfortable if it is not only shelter, but also home. Work progresses better if it results in a common achievement, and world-wide success is worth more if we can sing the National Anthem together afterwards.

We believe that state and politics should pursue the biggest of human goals: love, peace, security, order, truth and liberty.

We believe that democracy, with all its deficiencies, is the form of government which is the most convenient for serving the goal of human joy.

We believe that politics is a unity of commitment, wisdom, and productive action, which is being tied together by recognitions of historical experience.

Historical experience, political wisdom and our natural way of thinking taught us to respect human dignity. Everybody is entitled to human dignity, regardless of sex, origin, age, national belonging, religion, or state of health. Without its respect, freedom is lost and our communities, the family and the nation become defenceless.

We have learnt that Man is a community being, who is thriving for love. Therefore, all children are entitled to the emotional, moral and material security that the family is able to offer.

We have learnt that a precondition to joyful life is when one can produce the quality of life necessary for oneself and for the loved ones by way of one's own efforts. Besides self-sustainment, work also provides self-confidence to Man. The respect for work is a precondition to the spiritual health of the whole nation.

We have learnt that work is in fact the final source of private property. Where work is not respected, property itself is threatened, and where property is questioned, work is not appreciated, either.

We have learnt that freedom is Man's natural state of existence. A free Man would not do anything to another Man that he would not like to be done to himself. A free Man knows that human action has an external standard and that the moment comes when he has to account for his life.

We have learnt that a free Man is responsible for his successors as well, and therefore, he cares for the protection of nature and for its transmittal to future generations.

We have learnt that we may well be proud of our historical traditions respecting human dignity, from Saint Stephen to the 20th century Hungarian statesmen facing challenges of historical proportions.

We have learnt that only free citizens and strong communities are able to form a viable nation. For us, nation is a cohesive force stemming from the past, but also a common project for the future.

VI

At the onset of the 21st century, the Hungarian citizens and the Hungarian nation, in a similar manner to the citizens of other European nations, are not any more choosing between traditional ideologies or traditional political forces, but between deceptive promises and a genuinely joyful and meaningful life.

It is ever more violently heralded in the world to be concerned only about what may be acquired quickly, what requires no thinking, deep feelings, self-sacrifice, commitment and loyalty, what requires no love and trust of others. They are saying that the past does not count, it does not matter whose sacrifice contributed to what has come into existence. They are saying that there is no need for Truth, only Majority, there is no need for a genuine freedom, platitude suffices if it looks like one. We are saying, in turn, that such a life may hardly be meaningful and joyful.

We are establishing a Union so that the future of Hungarian citizens, and the Hungarian nation thereof, be built on freedom and responsibility.

We are establishing a Union so that we preserve what is genuinely important for the nation: human dignity, our history, our culture and language, the future of our families, the talent of our youth, the respect for our elderly, the Hungarians beyond our borders, our mother earth the farmland, and the remaining public assets.

We are establishing a Union so that we strengthen the weakening fabric of the nation by supporting the families, respecting women, with the help of the churches.

We are establishing a Union so that an economy serving Hungarian interests be built in Hungary, which may restore the financial security of the people, shaken since the fall of communism.

We are establishing a Union in order to help those who have remained to be the losers of the changing of the regime, for whom this process meant increasing problems and burdens instead of being able to grasp the opportunities provided by freedom.

We are establishing a Union so that rural lifestyle and family farmers get their own due acknowledgement and perspective in society and in order that rural Hungary be strengthened.

We are establishing a Union so that the Hungarians becoming citizens of the European Union all be winners of the accession and so that Europe remain the alliance of free nations.

We are establishing a Union in order to take a position in the emerging world order which provides for security and freedom for the Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin.

VII

We are confident to serve also national solidarity with our Union.

We are confident to contribute to the cause of a strong and united Hungarian nation with our Union.

We are confident that our Union will help the strenghtening of trust, amity and solidarity among Hungarians.

We continue to believe in the strenght of love and solidarity.