Debrecen and Legislation: Women at the Forefront of Public Affairs

On Friday, we had the honor of hosting Dr. Réka Varga, Vice President of the Constitutional Court, as our first speaker. She shared details about the functioning of the Constitutional Court and her own career journey, emphasizing the importance of identifying one's priorities in life and making decisions based on those principles. Dr. Varga also highlighted the value of professional preparedness and knowledge, which she described as critical for successful negotiations.

Following her talk, mentors for the Legislative Project Task joined us for an informal discussion. These included Dr. Márton Sulyok, Head of the Center for Public Law; Dr. András Mázi, Deputy Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice; Dr. Barna Miskolczi, Chief Prosecutor and former Ministerial Commissioner; and online participants Dr. István László Gál, Department Head and University Professor, and Dr. Zsolt Szabó, Associate Professor. The participants engaged with the mentors, exploring their thoughts on the legal system, and topics such as legal security, justice, and fairness. The evening concluded with the brainstorming phase of the legislative project, where participants, divided into four groups, selected topics to work on over the next six months under their mentors' guidance.

On Saturday, Dr. Ádám Márky introduced participants to the concept of mental well-being, marking the first step in the process of leadership self-reflection. He inspired attendees with the idea, “Thriving in a welfare society,” emphasizing the importance of making well-being a natural part of everyday life.

Following the morning's energizing session, Dr. Márton Sulyok delved into the legislative process, while Dr. Kálmán Pócza, Head of the Center for Constitutional Politics, discussed the political intersections of legislation. These sessions provided participants with a deeper understanding of the current legislative framework, its complexities, and its evolution over the past three decades, while also drawing comparisons with international examples to offer a broader perspective. 

The day concluded with a simulation debate and a roundtable discussion. Our evening guest, Zita Dobos, Managing Director of Főnix Event Management Ltd., emphasized the importance of setting priorities and having a supportive family background. She also spoke about the necessity of a cohesive workplace team, noting that no one can change the world alone—a team by your side is essential. The evening ended with a visit to Hungary’s second-largest Advent market, coordinated by Főnix Event Management.

On Sunday, Vilmos Benkő conducted a full-day public speaking workshop, equipping participants with practical tips and valuable knowledge through their speech presentations. During a brief break, participants attended a guided tour of the Csokonai Theater. The recently renovated Csokonai National Theater, which reopened a year ago, offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into its operations, along with insights into the history of Debrecen, led by Diána Szilvási, the Director's Secretary.

This weekend provided participants with a wealth of new experiences and inspiration, further preparing them to continue their public leadership journey with confidence and expertise.