Marriage and Public Life – Conference at KINCS
On the occasion of the 19th Marriage Week, we held a conference entitled "Marriage and Public Life" at KINCS, where public figures shared their thoughts on marriage.
In her welcoming speech, Tünde Fűrész, president of the Mária Kopp Institute, emphasized that marriage is still a value that should be cherished not only in private life but also in public life. According to KINCS research, Hungarians are fundamentally pro-marriage: the majority believe that marriage is the best form of relationship, while 97 percent of respondents are also aware that a good marriage requires daily effort. KINCS's public opinion research on wellbeing, which has been ongoing for five years, has shown that those who are married are the most optimistic in terms of happiness, satisfaction, sense of security, and assessment of their own lives. This is confirmed by the thoughts of Professor Mária Kopp, who says that "a good spouse and children protect against the demons of disappointment and depression and bring forth the angel of enthusiasm."
In her opening speech, Dr. Zsófia Koncz pointed out that Hungary's Fundamental Law clearly states that our country protects the institution of marriage and the family as the basis for the nation's survival, and strongly supports having children. The State Secretary for Families at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation also recalled that a genuine family-friendly shift took place in 2010, which has had tangible results. As a result, the number of marriages doubled between 2010 and 2021, and by 2025, eight out of ten children were born in wedlock. In order to support families, Europe's largest tax reduction program was launched last year, making CSED and GYED tax-free, launching the Home Start Program, and, as of October 1, mothers of three children received personal income tax exemption regardless of age. The scope of support was further expanded in January 2026: the minimum wage rose by 11 percent, which increased the amount of many family benefits, all mothers under the age of 30 with one child and all mothers under the age of 40 with two children – a total of around half a million women – became exempt from personal income tax, while the amount of family tax relief doubled compared to the previous level, affecting a total of one million families. Support on this scale has never been seen before, she added.
Shared values, shared future
The opening speeches were followed by two roundtable discussions, where participants talked about the power and importance of marriage through their personal experiences and public roles. The first roundtable discussion, entitled "Marriage and Public Life," featured Dr. Zsófia Koncz, State Secretary for Families, candidate for the 6th individual constituency of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, and her husband, Ádám Varkoly, deputy mayor of Szerencs, and Csilla Fazekas, deputy mayor of Budavár, candidate for Budapest's 1st individual constituency, and her husband, Péter Ondré, managing director of the Agricultural Marketing Center.
During the discussion moderated by journalist Ádám Ambrus, Dr. Zsófia Koncz emphasized that her husband, Ádám, is a devoted father, and that they are raising their two young children—a three-year-old and a one-year-old boy—together, relying on strong family values. Their relationship is based on a long-standing friendship, shared values, and common goals: both are committed to serving Szerencs and the surrounding area, and they are allies in their work as well as in their family life.
Ádám Varkoly described his own family model as decisive: his parents have been married for forty years, so he was raised from childhood with the view that marriage is a special value and a lifelong commitment. He pointed out that humor and an attitude that treats successes and achievements as shared values are essential for dealing with the difficulties of everyday life.
Csilla Fazekas said that marriage provides the stability and predictability in everyday life that everyone desires. The deputy mayor of Budavár emphasized that a well-functioning relationship involves both respect for individual freedom and mutual responsibility. She noted the importance of conscious relaxation, quality time spent together, and honest, constructive communication, especially when difficulties arise.
Péter Ondré said that from the very beginning, their relationship was based on shared values, which were constantly confirmed by life itself. This shared set of values naturally led to a shared vision of the future, which also coincided.
Supportive women, successful men
What does the role of a supportive spouse mean in everyday life? This is the topic of the second roundtable discussion of our conference entitled Marriage and Public Life, featuring Róbert Zsigó, Deputy Minister of Culture and Innovation, candidate for the 6th constituency of Bács-Kiskun County, and his wife, Rózsa Zsigóné, and Attila Steiner, State Secretary for Energy, candidate for Budapest's 3rd individual constituency, and his wife, Annamária Steiner-Isky, co-founder of the Women's DPK, shared their thoughts.
Róbert Zsigó emphasized that marriage is a community of love, security, and trust, as well as the knowledge that there is someone to lean on. As he said, during campaign periods, when the workload is particularly intense, a secure family background where he can find peace and recharge his batteries is invaluable.
His wife, Rózsa Zsigóné, said that she and her husband have been married for nearly 36 years and have three grown children, two of whom are disabled, and one grandchild. For her, marriage means that they can always count on each other and are never alone. She described her own role as providing the background power, ensuring that everyday life runs smoothly and the family remains stable.
Attila Steiner said that the twenty years of marriage behind them confirm his belief that everything will be fine in the coming decades. The state secretary emphasized that he considers a shared vision of the future to be the most important thing in a marriage, that the parties move in the same direction while preserving each other's independence.
According to Annamária Steiner-Isky, marriage is primarily an alliance and a partnership, a "win-win" relationship in which the parties support each other. She emphasized that mutual respect and humor are essential for a well-functioning marriage.
Tünde Fűrész, the moderator of the discussion, pointed out that in today's world, it is particularly important to show that marriage can work well. The president of KINCS pointed out that just as there is a woman behind every successful man, there is also a supportive partner behind every successful woman.
