Mandoki: "Freedom doesn't flow through the faucet" - Leslie Mandoki urges politicians to tackle real struggles over empty rhetoric
Leslie Mandoki, a Hungarian-born musician and producer, has called on politicians to focus on real issues rather than chasing headlines. Having fled Hungary for Germany in 1975, he argues that leaders must address everyday struggles—like integration and workers’ rights—with courage and responsibility.
Mandoki left Budapest nearly five decades ago and quickly settled in Germany. He found work without special programmes and stresses that integration should empower people, not leave them dependent. His own career saw collaborations with music legends like Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, and Eric Burdon, alongside his project Mandoki Soulmates, featuring artists such as Ian Anderson, Al Di Meola, and Till Brönner.
He warns that politics often becomes superficial, lacking practical solutions. Essential workers, from nurses to firefighters, feel ignored, he says, and their concerns must be taken seriously. The welfare state, while valuable, should help people join the workforce rather than weaken their independence. Mandoki also urges urban and academic elites to step beyond their comfort zones. Freedom, he insists, is not guaranteed—it requires daily effort. To protect it, people must engage with others, challenge their own views, and resist complacency.
Mandoki’s message centres on action over rhetoric. He wants politicians to tackle real problems, from labour market integration to supporting overlooked workers. His call for empathy and responsibility comes from decades of experience—both in music and as an immigrant who built a life in Germany.
