Even if Mr. Abbas holds a very negative opinion of the Palestinian Parliament, he still better deal with it. He should look for better ways to stop bread shortages.

When asking whether a leader has the right to bypass the democratic system for greater prosperity, we can fruitfully look to Hungary. In my home country the biggest opposition party (FIDESZ) calls its partisans into the streets each day. October 23 was the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution. In spite of the celebrations, the leader of FIDESZ organized a huge rally in the center of Budapest and demanded that the Prime Minister resign. What had happened? You might remember the Prime Minister gave a speech at a secret party meeting where he said "we [he and his party] have pissed off" everybody and that he didn't want to lie any more.

Other Hungarian politicians never say that they do not want to lie even while they do. But those who lead the opposition were outraged by the Prime Minister's remarks. And ever since he made them, they are doing everything to force him to resign. In front of the Hungarian Parliament there is a permanent protest of thousands. Each evening another opposition figure gives a speech there. Today, police forces and the angry crowd engaed in quite a battle in the center of the city.

I know a politician should not lie. Still, we all know that most of them still do it -- it is a part of their game. I do not mind if this Prime Minister resigns. But I think the opposition should wait until the next parliamentary elections rather than force him to resign. This whole affair has nothing to do with the food supply of Hungarian families, I guess. But in the same way, I believe bread should be provided by all means, and held separate from politics, no matter how dysfunctional the parliament.