János Lázár's Racist Statements
Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár repeatedly made racist statements about Roma people, publicly denigrating them.
Key Figures
- Lázár János (építési miniszter / construction minister)
- Viktor Orbán
Impact
Normalization of hate speech, further marginalization of Roma community, international condemnation
János Lázár, one of Orbán's closest associates and Minister of Construction and Transport, made repeated racist statements about the Roma community in 2025-2026. In public speeches and interviews, he used hate speech, reinforced stereotypes, and supported discriminatory policies.
His statements sparked widespread outrage among domestic and international human rights organizations. The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and Amnesty International condemned Lázár's words as contributing to the marginalization and violence against the Roma community.
The minister's statements are not isolated - under the Fidesz government, discrimination against Roma has become systemic: segregated schools, housing discrimination, police brutality. Lázár's words turn the government's implicit racist policies into explicit attacks.
Hungary's Roma community numbers over 600,000, belonging to one of Europe's most disadvantaged minorities. The government's rhetoric does not help integration but deepens the divide.