Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Speech to mark Saint Stephen Memorial Year.

19 August 2013, Székesfehérvár

Dear people of Székesfehérvár!

We are gathered here today to mark the memorial year of the founding father the state, King Stephen. The Hungarian Government has also come along to join the festivities and will also be holding a special cabinet meeting here later today. The meeting of the Government today in Székesfehérvár is a mark of respect and a tribute. We pay tribute to the historical merits of this exceptional Hungarian city and express our respect for the city's present day residents. We hold the history of the city in great esteem and acknowledge the entrepreneurship and vitality that you, the people of Fehérvár, repeatedly give testimony to. The telling fact that during recent years you have launched no less than 807, that is eight hundred and seven development projects of various sizes in cooperation with the Government, of which 378 have already been realised, are an excellent indication of this entrepreneurship and vitality. And in view of the fact that the Mayor will also be taking part at today's cabinet meeting, I have a feeling that this number may increase further during the course of the afternoon.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

The Government's respect for the people of Székesfehérvár was also expressed in our decision to take on 70 percent of the city's debts, a total of 9 and a half billion forints, thus saving our coronation city and its citizens from the trials and tribulations of impending debt slavery.

Dear Mr. Mayor, Lord Bishop, Dear people of Fehérvár!

When we remember our king, Saint Stephen, we conjure up an image of an exemplary statesman. According to the Hungarian way of thinking, those leaders of the country are regarded as statesmen who, looking beyond the struggles, tactics and skill required for the everyday governing of the country, create such a bond between the members of the nation that keeps the country intact and connects its people for a long period of time, in other words who keep the Hungarian nation together. Because it is the nature of the bond that keeps nations and countries together, that it becomes looser from time to time, like the hoops of an old barrel. And if someone doesn't reinforce them or exchange the ageing hoops for new ones occasionally, then giving in to the law of gravity, the staves fall apart leaving nothing but a pile of useless firewood. This is how the old nations of Europe fall and fell by the dozen, their names long forgotten, perhaps only existing in the yellowed pages of national archives. That we, Hungarians, did not suffer this fate, did not disintegrate and were not enveloped by others is thanks to a long line of statesmen, of whom the first in this long line is our king, Saint Stephen.

When Stephen was chosen as monarch, the federation of Hungarian tribes was in a state of disintegration and the Hungarian tribes were at war with each other while pieces of the territory we had already occupied were being slowly bitten away by the neighbouring Czech, Polish and German princes and kings. We imagine a divided association of tribes which is being weakened from within and under constant attack from neighbouring states, and which is continuously losing its power, its territories and its internal strength. Saint Stephen, looking forward well beyond the problems of everyday life, his political struggles and petty bickering, began by taking the lead and thus saving his homeland and its people from disintegration. He then prevented his people from returning to their pagan roots. After that, he saved the country from the danger of being incorporated into the Byzantine Empire. Next, he preserved Hungary's independence from the Germans. After that, he established political unity in contrast to tribal individuality, founding a strong state and providing the people of Hungary with laws. Had he not done so or done it wrong, we could hardly be here as we are today.

Dear people of Fehérvár!

When we think back on our king, Saint Stephen, we imagine not only a great leader,  but also a good husband, a good father and a good Christian; the image of a good person. Even after a thousand years we can safely stand by this opinion, because the words that he wrote to his son and which are known by the title Remonstrances to Emerick from Saint Stephen have been left behind for posterity and can still be read by all. Despite its title, his words in fact send a message to all of us, to every Hungarian. To anyone who doesn't wish to live their lives as a mindless animal. To everyone who feels or thinks that they are not here on this earth by accident, who thinks that there is a sense, a unique and particular sense to their lives that only they and nobody else can fulfil. They send a message to everyone who has sufficient strength and ability to recognise that a useful life requires the experience of others and the help of others; as the great king said: we indeed have need of remonstrances.

This is what Saint Stephen's remonstrances tell us: "Listen, my son, to the remonstrances of your father, and do not disregard the teachings of your mother!" "The time has come for you to be fed with soft porridge no more, for that can make you only soft and squeamish, and that is the wasting away of manhood…" "Because if a King is polluted by ungodliness and cruelty, he may make claim to the title of king, but he must be called a tyrant…" Or elsewhere: "Be patient with everyone, not only with the mighty, but also with those who have no access to power." Or again elsewhere: "Be strong, lest good fortune make you complacent or bad luck drag you down." "Be moderate, so that you punish or condemn no one more than needed," And perhaps the most important: "Be placid, so you never fight against justice. Be honest, so you purposefully shame no one." "Be merciful to all those who suffer violence; bear in your heart God's admonition: 'I want mercy, not sacrifice'." "Always keep in mind that all men are born in the same state and that only humility may lift you, only arrogance and hatred may smite you down."

Dear people of Fehérvár!

As my festive greeting I would ask the citizens of the city of Székesfehérvár to remain faithful guardians and representatives of the remonstrances of Saint Stephen, without whom today, one thousand years later, there could be no strong homeland, no loving family and no happy people.

God bless every citizen of Székesfehérvár!

(Prime Minister’s Office)