Hunglish.orgCorruption (a.k.a. "Korrupció") is a major social problem in Hungary, causing wariness of government, distrust of bureaucrats, and catharsis when reading certain Móricz Zsigmond novels.
Written by Scott Savoie
Corruption is a big problem in Hungary. Sometimes it seems like everyone is on the take.
Even if they are not, there is a perception of that being the case and it causes Hungarians to be wary of their government.
Many of the rich people in the country got that way through contacts, nepotism and political cronyism.
After the regime change, real estate and businesses were divvied up and sold by an elite few for huge profits while your average Hungarian was left holding the mortgage on a panel flat, payable in Euros.
This is not a new problem, as Móricz Zsigmond wrote about this problem in his book „Rokonok” (Eng. „Relatives”). It told the story of an honest bureaucrat who is forced to become corrupt in the end. It has a happy ending, though, as he winds up shooting himself.
This was undoubtedly cathartic, as many Hungarians probably wish their politicians had consciences and would shoot themselves. Alas, they carry on somehow.
The problem is what to do about korrupció: If everyone is corrupt (or perceived to be corrupt) then who will make the rules? Who will enforce the rules? Answer: the most corrupt.
In Hungary, the rules get followed but in a Hungarian way, which means „kind of.”