Vox Populi: Szabolcs Sóber from Budapest
1. What are your expectations/hopes from these elections?
Those candidates and parties who fight populism shall come into spotlight during the campaign. The fresh faces can bring new dynamics and change the dialogue we have been seeing in the last years. FIDESZ is drifting away from core-European values and is less and less conscious on the role of Europe in the 21st century. Most probably they will use the migration and fear for main campaign topic as they did in the last election. I expect here fierce messages and disinformation during the election and those can be remedied only by candidates who reach people directly. The stakes are high, and the voters need clear and proven answers for the challenges we are facing instead of confusing messages. I hope that people will prefer the force that unite Europeans, us.
2. Do you/people in your member state still have faith in the EU to deliver?
Contrary to the current political situation in Hungary, more than 60% of Hungarians feel positively about the country’s EU membership. This is a good number to look at and I hope young voters are also aware that this comes from co-operation and commitment. The good things we like about the EU is a result of teamwork and transparency. If they are secure EU can be more efficient. But again, voters need to see clearly that institutions such as the European Public Prosecutor’s Office are not the enemy, but the guarantee.
3. Will you be voting? If so, who for (if you are willing to say)?
Of course, I will cast my vote in May. Not just because every participation matter, but also because I wholeheartedly support progressive parties such as Momentum.
4. Tell us some very brief persona/biographical details about yourself?
I am a Hungarian political activist living in Budapest. I stand for liberal values and open dialogue. My political engagement started two years ago in Momentum Movement, I run as a candidate on the European Parliament Election in May.
