Opinion | Lázár, Step Down!

 

Dear Reader,

The Minister of Construction and Transport recently said:
“If there are no migrants, and someone has to clean the toilets on the InterCity train—because Hungarian voters don’t exactly rush to volunteer to clean someone else’s filthy toilet—then we need to tap into internal reserves. And the internal reserves mean the Roma population in Hungary. That’s the reality.”

In the latest post on Sincerely Doubt That…, let’s see how János Lázár attempts to woo far-right voters before the elections with this blatantly racist statement.

There is no doubt that in Hungary and across Europe, anti-Roma sentiment is the last acceptable form of racism. Many public figures and politicians have made similar statements without facing consequences. It is also undeniable that János Lázár, as a public official, does not serve the interests of Hungary when he discriminates between Hungarian citizens.

But why do this at all? Before the April 8, 2018 elections, Lázár said:
“We have lived with the Roma for 600 years, and to this day, we have not been able to integrate them, to put it clearly.”
All of this was to make a last attempt to appeal to sections of Hungarian society susceptible to anti-Roma sentiment.

So why does it feel like Lázár’s statement backfired? Why did this attempt fail?

In recent years, Fidesz has been embroiled in numerous scandals: corruption, embezzlement of public funds, lavish spending, while dismantling healthcare, transport, and education systems, making everyday life harder for citizens. Scandals surrounding child protection, pedophilia cases, and irresponsible decisions all show that the government prioritizes its own interests over public service and accountability.

In the past 24 hours alone, dozens of posts and articles have emerged showing that the online community and civil reactions do not resonate with Lázár’s statement. Roma voices have grown louder—they are visible, standing up, writing open letters, and speaking out, sending a clear message: they cannot be stigmatized or silenced. Some people jokingly grabbed toilet brushes, others wrote open letters, many expressed outrage, and a 12-year-old Roma girl shared a video saying she studies not to end up cleaning toilets. The Tisza Party also condemned the statement.

The internet is buzzing with shares and supportive comments. And not just the Roma community speaking out—non-Roma also unequivocally reject this statement. Across social media, comment sections, articles, and videos, it is evident that a significant part of society does not accept hate speech, especially when much larger, systemic problems exist in the country—problems caused not by the Roma population but by Fidesz.

The Fidesz government has made life difficult for many of us. The destruction caused by the current government has created conditions where even those earning an honest living—whether cleaning the InterCity toilets—struggle to get by. And let’s not forget: the Roma who clean InterCity toilets are far more honorable people than János Lázár.

Just an idea: let’s peacefully gather in front of the Parliament and bring toilet brushes with us to show that integrity and the power of the majority belong to us.

Yours Sincerely,
BB

Sources:

Forrás:

HVG.hu, „Lázár János romaellenes kijelentésére reagált Orsós János”, 2026. január 23., https://hvg.hu/itthon/20260123_lazar-janos-ciganysag-orsos-janos-reakcio

24.hu, „Lázár János: 600 éve élünk együtt a cigányokkal, és mind a mai napig nem tudtuk őket integrálni”, 2018. március 29., https://24.hu/belfold/2018/03/29/lazar-janos-romak-integracio-menekultek/

Politico, „Viktor Orbán ally hits anti-Roma, minority, migration note ahead of Hungary election”, https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-ally-hits-anti-roma-minority-migration-note-ahead-of-hungary-election

Sincerely Doubt That, „Vélemény: Az EU legkorruptabb országa”, 2025. február, https://isincerelydoubtthat.blogspot.com/2025/02/velemeny-az-eu-legkorruptabb-orszaga.html

Sincerely Doubt That, „Opinion: EU’s Most Corrupt Country”, 2025. február, https://isincerelydoubtthat.blogspot.com/2025/02/opinion-eus-most-corrupt-country.html

Sincerely Doubt That, „Celebration: International Roma Day”, 2025. április, https://isincerelydoubtthat.blogspot.com/2025/04/celebration-international-roma-day.html