Ferenc Szaniszlo

October 7, 1960

Csenger

Working for Budapest television, Szaniszló reported on the collapse of the Soviet Union, and on the conflict between Serb and Hungarian speaking populations in Yugoslavia. Later, Szaniszló covered the Kosovo war in Serbia, interviewing Albanian villagers and political leaders. In Hungary, Szaniszló worked as an editor for Duna television news between 2005-2007. Since 2008 he has worked for the television chain Echo television, a "favorite forum among Hungarian neofascists" according to Le Monde. Following the Ajka alumina plant accident in October 2010, Szaniszló claimed that the incident was caused by the International Monetary Fund, and bombing by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Szaniszló has previously suggested that he regards Jews as "garbage," and referred to Hungary"s Roma minority, who face discrimination, as "human monkeys." Szaniszló"s receipt of the Táncsics award was immediately criticized by Hungarian and international media, by the Israeli ambassador Ilan Mor, and by United States. ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis. A dozen former recipients of the Táncsics returned their awards in protest. In response, and following a request by minister Balog, Szaniszló returned his award. He denied the charge of racism and stated that he was "a victim of machinations by Israel and the United States". Balog stated that Szaniszló"s award primarily intended to acknowledge the media figure"s previous work, and said that he only later learned of Szaniszló"s racist remarks. On 22 March Balog wrote to the Ambassador of the United States, stating that he had immediately admitted his mistake in honoring Szaniszló. He countered that the Government of the United States had made the same error as Hungary in preparing to honor Egyptian Samira Ibrahim. The Ambassador said she was pleased to see that Minister Balog had corrected his mistake.

Ferenc Szaniszlo

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journalist

Background

Szaniszló was born in Csenger in 1960, and grew up in Csegöld and Fehérgyarmat, both in east Hungary.

Education

He attended University in Moscow, and was subsequently stationed there as an employee of the Hungarian daily paper Magyar Hírlap.

Career

Working for Budapest television, Szaniszló reported on the collapse of the Soviet Union, and on the conflict between Serb and Hungarian speaking populations in Yugoslavia. Later, Szaniszló covered the Kosovo war in Serbia, interviewing Albanian villagers and political leaders. In Hungary, Szaniszló worked as an editor for Duna television news between 2005-2007.

Since 2008 he has worked for the television chain Echo television, a "favorite forum among Hungarian neofascists" according to Le Monde.

Following the Ajka alumina plant accident in October 2010, Szaniszló claimed that the incident was caused by the International Monetary Fund, and bombing by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Szaniszló has previously suggested that he regards Jews as "garbage," and referred to Hungary"s Roma minority, who face discrimination, as "human monkeys."

Szaniszló"s receipt of the Táncsics award was immediately criticized by Hungarian and international media, by the Israeli ambassador Ilan Mor, and by United States. ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis.

A dozen former recipients of the Táncsics returned their awards in protest. In response, and following a request by minister Balog, Szaniszló returned his award.

He denied the charge of racism and stated that he was "a victim of machinations by Israel and the United States".

Balog stated that Szaniszló"s award primarily intended to acknowledge the media figure"s previous work, and said that he only later learned of Szaniszló"s racist remarks. On 22 March Balog wrote to the Ambassador of the United States, stating that he had immediately admitted his mistake in honoring Szaniszló. He countered that the Government of the United States had made the same error as Hungary in preparing to honor Egyptian Samira Ibrahim.

The Ambassador said she was pleased to see that Minister Balog had corrected his mistake.

Achievements

In 2013 Szaniszló received Hungary"s prestigious Táncsics journalism award for his earlier work, including reports on the fall of the Soviet Union and the Yugoslav Wars, but returned it following criticism over anti-Semitic and anti-Roma remarks broadcast nationally on Echo television On 14 March 2013 the Hungarian Human Resources Minister Zoltán Balog awarded Szaniszló the Táncsics award, one of Hungary"s highest state awards for journalism, named after Mihály Táncsics. According to critics, the Orbán government has courted far right voters since its victory in the 2010 Hungarian election that saw the Jobbik Party, often described as fascistic, win 17% of the national vote.

Politics

Socialist opposition Member of Parliament István Nyakó called the award a political calculation seeking "the applause of the extreme right," a criticism raised by some European newspapers. Responding to the incident, Jobbik Party president Gábor Vona stated that Szaniszló had won a "moral victory" in an interview with Hungary"s Szent Korona Rádió (Holy Crown Radio).

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