You can either write hysterically about politics these days or not at all. Which is why I generally choose not to. A special request to do so produces today’s Daily Paradox.
April 12th 2026 will turn out to be a fairly memorable world political day. The 16-year long Premiership reign of Viktor Orban in Hungary has come to an end. I suppose it was bound to, once the US President supported him, though there was always the chance that the cunning backing of the Russian President might have pulled him through. Péter Magyar, leader of the pro‑EU Tisza party, has taken the job. Well done him and well done the people of Hungary. Your decision can shine a light onto the future.
As with all change the future may not be a long one. The pivot against the sort of rule Hungary has been used to is fundamental to bring sense to politics, the living world of you and I, of behaving as though we had more or less grown up. Many politicians are people of good service, of trustworthiness, of real concern for their fellow human beings. They slog away at the nuts and bolts of life often for relatively little thanks. They get thrown out when irresponsible media support the ranting, mouthy idiots who think they are on a stage.
Which is exactly where they are. Let’s hope the plots will increasingly be those of trials deciding the rights and wrongs of political decisions. Maybe juries will learn the difficulties of politics in a world that is clattering along at breakneck speed. Maybe it could become the new form of democracy?
“Politics is the art of the possible”. This insulting definition is, to me, the ultimate denial of humans as moral people. If I break your neck it is possible to kill you. I don’t think I should. Your birth gave you a right to life. There may be circumstances when I can legitimately take it for the protection of others. I regard these occasions as rare. Normally, I endorse your right.
Indeed I see you, whoever, wherever and however you are, as interesting and relevant and someone from whom I can learn. And when I do I may even be able to teach you something in thanks for your lessons to me.
“Humans are not moral people”. If so, are we to deny our ability to contribute to our creation? I don’t accept the proposition anyway. I have met hundreds of thousands of humans who are moral – not perfect but trying. That’s what I see Péter Magyar doing when he says ‘This mandate makes possible a transition that is efficient, just and peaceful’.
“What we need are great leaders.“ Yes, we do, but beware the trap of acting leadership rather than practicing it. Good actors are compelling. Good leaders are strategic. They are rare because few people even know what strategy is. As for distinguishing it from tactics, forget it. People want to play with the train set. They don’t want to plot the journey.
The ultimate leadership insult has just been shown to us. When a leader has to resort to blasphemy he is ready to be ignored. I captured the picture but I won’t show it. It is not my job to enhance the “delusion of omnipotence that is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive”. Pope Leo has said that for all of us.
His point is enhanced by the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago. It’s worth listening to.
“We’re dehumanising the victims of war by turning the suffering and the killing of children and our own soldiers into entertainment.”
May we never forget these words when we go to the polls, when we comment on a politician, when we have our point of view.
For whatever we do, say or think is our contribution to politics.
Good morning
John Bittleston
Your views, as always, welcome at [email protected].
14 April 2026
