MCC Feszt Day 2: Despite the Rain, Full House at the Public Discussions and Concerts at MCC Feszt

Ministers presented the Government's Strategy

The withholding of EU funds, despite the rule of law facade, is clearly a tool of political pressure, stated the minister responsible for European Affairs during a discussion with Mandiner. János Bóka was interviewed by Mátyás Kohán, Deputy Editor of Mandiner. The Minister emphasized that, as an admittedly political actor, the European Commission aims to demonstrate that policies fundamentally different from its own cannot be pursued. Among the numerous priorities of the rotating presidency, he highlighted the need to restore European competitiveness and noted that, regarding European defense policy, the clear goal is to adopt a defense industry plan in the Council that aims to establish strategic autonomy.

The social recognition of soldiers must be restored, which requires not only the development and modernization of the armed forces but also a change in organizational mindset within the military: soldiers must view the defense of the homeland as a sacred duty. We must also remember every day those military heroes who gave their lives to ensure a better future for the next generation, said Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defense, during a panel discussion. The minister was interviewed by Dr. Bálint Somkuti, a research fellow at MCC's School of International Relations.

Despite peace missions, we must be prepared for the escalation of the war next door and possibly defend our country. This requires that our armed forces, facing any enemy, be brave and well-prepared for this duty, the defense minister stated during the discussion.

Chris Rufo on Migration: Hungary Was Right

Those who go against the leftist mainstream face serious difficulties, such as humiliation or ostracism – Chris Rufo discussed this on the MOL Main Stage at MCC Feszt. The journalist who exposed the Harvard plagiarism scandal and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute also pointed out that the biggest leftist media outlets reported on the scandal only days after the events, which demonstrates media bias. Chris Rufo also spoke about the European migration crisis, stating that the events validate Hungary's stance.

The World Order is Transforming – Discussed by Experts in "Rough Seas Ahead: The Global Outlook for 2024 and Beyond"

The world order is in transformation – this was the topic of discussion among experts in the "Rough Seas Ahead: The Global Outlook for 2024 and Beyond" session. Peter Frankopan emphasized that decisions made in the next 10 years will shape not just the coming century but millennia. In his opening lecture, the British historian stated that climatic, demographic, technological, and economic changes all point in this direction.

In the following panel, Attila Demkó warned that China and India are on the rise, noting that the most crucial question is whether a direct military conflict between the East and West can be avoided. In contrast, Rudolf Adam argued that there are not just two, but multiple powers emerging militarily, especially considering nuclear weapons – pointed out the former deputy head of German intelligence.

The Deputy Director of the Shanghai Center for European Studies highlighted that, from a Chinese perspective, the current international situation is far more complicated than before, with intense competition among the great powers. Jing Long asserted that to avoid conflict, both sides need to make compromises. Nevertheless, C. Raja Mohan believes that it is essential to simultaneously strengthen the West's military capabilities and continue diplomatic negotiations on a rational basis.

Hungarian companies are now major players in the International Market

Hungarian large enterprises are internationally competitive and significant players in foreign markets. This was the topic discussed by company leaders during the "Our Strategy for Growth - Hungarian Champions of the Carpathian Basin" panel discussion.

The domestic pharmaceutical market is highly competitive, reminded Gábor Orbán, CEO of Richter Gedeon Nyrt. He pointed out that beyond expanding within the Carpathian Basin, their primary goal is to conquer Western markets. In this area, Richter has made significant strides and has joined the ranks of key companies. International market expansion is also feasible for Hungarian companies, said Károly Mátrai, CEO of the MVM Group. He emphasized that the company has outgrown the domestic framework, and that foreign expansion is a natural yet challenging task for further growth.

According to Oszkár Világi, the main strength of the domestic oil company is that it now operates as an excellently functioning international corporation and achieves success. The Deputy CEO of MOL Nyrt. highlighted that the company is present in 12 countries, is a market leader in 3 countries, and generates 70-75% of its revenues from foreign operations.

Zsolt Hernádi: Hungary's Oil Supply is secured

Zsolt Hernádi and Egon Rónai's discussion also focused on economic issues. The MOL Chairman and CEO criticized the Ukrainian decision that blocks oil from Russia from reaching Hungary. At the MCC Feszt panel discussion, Zsolt Hernádi stated that Hungary and MOL are losing one of their largest suppliers and can only temporarily procure the raw material at a higher price from other sources. Hernádi emphasized that despite these challenges, there will be no fuel shortage, as this would require the closure of all other sources, and Hungary has a 90-day reserve.

Speaking about the government's economic policy, the CEO of MOL pointed out that greater efficiency and strategic planning are needed in the use of windfall taxes. Regarding the EU decision affecting car manufacturing, Hernádi warned that the complete transition to electric cars will not be successful. The society, industry, support system, quantity of raw materials, and electrical grid are not ready for this change.

Egon Rónai commented that the new system for returning bottles and drink cans is not a success story. In response, Zsolt Hernádi said that significant results have been achieved in such a short time, and Hungary is doing well even in international comparison. Building and operating a new, more efficient, and greener waste management system takes time and is a good investment in the future, added the MOL leader.

Debate: Are we just an assembly plant?

Are we just an assembly plant? This question was explored by István Joó, government commissioner, and Imre Komjáthi, member of parliament, with Csaba Moldicz moderating. "We need investment and job creation, but we should not sacrifice Hungarians on the altar of big capital!" said Imre Komjáthi, who criticized during the debate that large Eastern companies do not comply with environmental and labor protection regulations. "We are doing our job, the system works. Instead of generalizations, we need to focus on specifics. And anyone who comes here must follow the rules," remarked István Joó. He highlighted the positives of the development of Hungary's automotive industry, noting that it offers opportunities not only for the working class but also for young university students.

Education as the transmission of Cultural Heritage and survival essence to the next generation

Experts also debated educational and professional issues on the second day of MCC Feszt. Education researcher István Nahalka emphasized that foundational knowledge is needed as a cultural canon and starting point; it is the common denominator and the basis of common discourse. Without it, there is no development of creativity. János Setényi, Head of MCC's Learning Research Institute, stressed the importance of reading. He argued that the generation growing up on TikTok does not find immediate pleasure in reading, but practicing text comprehension is essential and will yield results.

In response, education researcher Kriszta Ercse highlighted the importance of fostering a love of reading in children and introducing them to the joy of learning. Milan Constantinovits noted that while the perception of the teacher's role is changing, human relationships remain crucial, and the group and community organizing work of teachers cannot be replaced, added the Deputy Director General of MCC.

Movie, Reading, Culture

"Anyone who wants to be an artist just to say they are one, won't become a true artist," said Norbert Köbli, Head of an MCC’s Story Lab and screenwriter, during a discussion with actor Attila Vidnyánszky Jr. and director Bálint Szentgyörgyi.

Vidnyánszky emphasized that with the rise of digital platforms, it's important from a theatrical perspective to understand trends to convey theater's messages to the audience. Bálint Szentgyörgyi acknowledged the advantages of smartphones and streaming services but stressed the importance of valuable artistic content.

During the discussion titled "How a Writer is Born," viewers were introduced to the behind-the-scenes aspects of writing by Anna Karády, a lawyer and author of the Füredi Girl trilogy and the Zserbó series, and Mór Bán, author of the highly successful Hunyadi series. On the publishing and distribution side, Orsolya Stefanie Ludvig, marketing and communications director at Libri, provided insights. They explored questions such as what makes a writer, the relationship between writing and reading, and the connection between writing and historical understanding. 

At the "Whose Culture Is It?" panel, journalist Gábor Mező, publicist Ádám Petri Lukács, Szilveszter Ókovács, General Director of the Hungarian State Opera, and Sándor Gallai, Head of MCC's School of Social and Historical Sciences, discussed culture, its historical aspects, and its role. The discussion also touched on music as a key genre and a possible means of popularization, using the example of the Csík zenekar, which successfully preserves and conveys culture to a young audience.

MCC Feszt visitors received lifestyle advice

Ádám Márky, Supervisor at the MCC Leadership Academy, discussed the importance of proper nutrition and sustainable healthy lifestyle habits with Richárd Schwab, a gastroenterologist and internal medicine specialist. Dr. Schwab emphasized that exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining long-term health, recommending 150 minutes of intense physical activity per week for the audience. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of proper nutrition. Schwab stated, "Our digestive system is like a separate world, most comparable to an oil refinery. If the refinery operates correctly, it will produce high-quality fuel. Therefore, maintaining a healthy digestive system and bowel movement is paramount!" He also expressed concerns that schools and universities do not place enough emphasis on the importance of healthy eating and lifestyle.

Startups, Pornography Addiction, Digital Dangers

The discussion "The Passport to Growth: A Roadmap for Scaleups’ International Expansion" featured Karolina Wilk-Tryjanowska, Director of the Founder Institute Poland and Head of Zenith AI ecosystem; Philip Pilkington, Macroeconomist, Investment Professional, Visiting Fellow of MCC; Bernard Yeung, Singaporean Economist, Former Dean of the NUS Business School; and moderator Viktor Lázár. The speakers talked about startups, emphasizing that a good idea is often not enough, as expansion is greatly influenced by market and cultural environments.

The debate on pornography addiction, considered a public health issue, included political scientist Gergely Vágvölgyi from Axióma, sexologist and habilitated university lecturer Krisztina Hevesi, couple therapist and pastor Gábor Mihalec, and Áron Giró-Szász, president of the Axióma Center. They agreed that while it cannot be categorically stated that pornography is bad, it clearly has destructive effects.

At the MBH Bank stage, Erica Komisar, author and child-rearing advisor, discussed stress in children, the role of parents during early and teenage years, and the development of mental illnesses. She was joined by Sara Huff, psychologist and Brazil’s most famous feminist; Chaya Raichik, a leading figure against classroom activism and founder of Libs of TikTok; and Matt Goodwin, British academic and political science professor at the University of Kent, with Joanna Williams moderating.

Before the panel discussion, Erica Komisar gave a speech highlighting that children struggle to handle the vast amount of information from the media, leading to increased stress. She pointed out: "It's important for parents to be physically and emotionally present for their children, talk about balanced living, and thus raise resilient, healthy children."

The roundtable discussion "New broom sweeps well, but the old one knows all the corners" featured the mayors of Miskolc, Eger, the Castle District, and Esztergom, moderated by Szabolcs Janik and powered by KEMMA. The mayors discussed what makes a good mayor and their plans for the next term. Eger's new mayor argued that a good city leader must also be a good manager, as political approaches alone cannot solve all problems. He believes a mayor is successful if re-elected. László Böröcz agreed, noting that political work is also crucial because no matter how good a mayor is, it must be communicated effectively. Excellent professionals are essential as a mayor cannot succeed alone. A larger municipality is sustainable only if the city leaders prioritize issues to be addressed during the term.

The English-language discussion "Be Mainstream or Be Quiet – Is there a Limit for Freedom of Speech in Germany?” powered by the Hungarian-German Institute for European Cooperation, was held on the Rákóczi Square stage. The panelists were Kai Diekmann (former editor-in-chief of Bild), Armin Petschner-Multari (founder of TheRepublic), and Franca Bauerfeind (author and CDU politician), moderated by Bence Bauer, director of the Hungarian-German Institute.

Both Diekmann and Petschner-Multari began by stating that, in legal terms, nothing prevents anyone from saying what they think in Germany. However, as the discussion progressed, stories illustrating the tangible effects of Cancel Culture were shared. Petschner-Multari mentioned that while legally anyone can say anything, there can be real consequences if a media personality openly supports a point of view that does not reflect the majority or the current government. Diekmann, on the other hand, noted that he has personally never had a problem with this phenomenon and has never felt restricted in expressing his opinions throughout his journalistic career.