Dear Dr. Katalin Balatoni,
It is not the first time, and it will hardly be the last, that we have had to face the fact that, as a public education leader, you are using the public sphere as a political campaign tool instead of professional dialogue. Your current outburst is not about the PDSZ, but about the way in which you exercise power, which is based on slander instead of dialogue, on making enemies instead of arguments.
Crossing out the PDSZ logo and spreading unscrupulous lies is not only undignified, but also a deliberate attempt to discredit the trade union movement, the democratic culture of debate and the honour of teachers. This is not an opinion, it is an insult. We firmly reject it.
The PDSZ is not an ideological organisation, but still, it can not remain silent when people in power antagonise society against freedom, human rights, acceptance, knowledge and respect. The future of our children is not a matter of party propaganda. And we will not allow exclusion, fear-mongering or state-sponsored hate campaigns to become the “norm” in public education.
Let us be clear: the Budapest Pride March was not just a celebration of a community. It was an event of standing up for freedom, solidarity and the rule of law, together with teachers, students and parents who are humiliated, intimidated and silenced by the system day after day. The event was also a protest against laws that restrict the right of assembly, destroy democracy, and seek to justify them in the name of those who are most affected: children.
The international importance of the event was reflected in the presence of representatives of several European and international organisations, including ETUCE (European Trade Union Committee for Education). They not only expressed their solidarity, but also witnessed the means used in Hungary to silence those who dare to stand up for their rights.
Please be informed that your post, including the deliberate desecration of the PDSZ symbol, will be forwarded to our international trade union partners. The smear campaign of the Hungarian government will not stay within our borders.
We will not tolerate the destruction of public education and hate speech going hand in hand.
We will continue to stand up:
– for children’s rights,
– for acceptance and diversity,
– for freedom of knowledge,
– for the dignity of teachers
– and for the future of democratic public education.
Anyone who says that Pride is the greatest threat today is not defending children, but the narrative of a collapsing system.
The PDSZ does not back down.
Budapest, 30th June 2025 The National Executive Board of the PDSZ
