At first glance Wizz Air, Hungary’s low-cost carrier, may appear well-placed to be among those European airlines that survive the pandemic without filing for bankruptcy. In 2019, Wizz Air transported nearly 40 million passengers, making the Hungarian carrier the eighth largest airline or airline holding in Europe. At the start of the pandemic-related lockdowns in March, József Váradi, Wizz Air’s […]
Last fall, I had the chance to travel to Athens, Ohio, to see the premiere screening of Edit Jakab’s short film In Praise of Angela. Many years ago, Edit and I taught at the same Hungarian Saturday school in Montreal. We reconnected just a few years ago and it was a pleasure to see the direction that life took her these […]
Although the Coronavirus pandemic in Hungary has not yet peaked and with 2,284 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 239 deaths, the Orbán government announced that it will be prepared to begin re-opening the economy soon after May 4th. On April 29th, the government intends to announce its plan on re-opening the economy. The current model predicts that the coronavirus will […]
As of Thursday, there were 585 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Hungary and 21 deaths, so the Orbán government is preparing to have parliament pass legislation attacking the recognition of transgender people and their rights. Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, the leader of the Christian Democratic People’s Party, a phantom party which survives at the pleasure of Prime […]
The party state’s two-thirds majority in parliament meant that with 138 voting for and just 53 against, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has secured the right to rule by decree for an unlimited period of time, and to unilaterally suspend existing laws, ostensibly in an effort to better address the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary. On Monday, the number of Hungarians confirmed […]
There are currently 12 cases of coronavirus in Hungary. As a containment measure, the Hungarian government has cancelled all public commemorative events planned for March 15th, a national holiday marking the 1848 Revolution and War of Independence. Additionally, on Wednesday, the Orbán government declared a state of emergency — an unprecedented move since Hungary’s transition to democracy in 1989/90. The […]
Slovakia held parliamentary elections on Saturday, February 29th and the vote was significant for two reasons. First, it brought the victory of the curiously named “Ordinary People” party (OĽaNO), which swept to power on a populist anti-corruption platform, garnering 25% of the vote. Second, for Hungarians, the election was an unhappy turning point, in that no Hungarian party passed the […]
A Menorah stood on the ornate hutch, alongside Kalocsai embroideries, Hungarian country style jugs called Miska kancsó, hurricane lamps and a framed photograph of Balaton Restaurant’s late founder, Terezia Nevery — quite an eclectic mix, but a welcome change from the dime-a-dozen family restaurant chains around my hotel on the periphery of Cleveland. I spent an extended weekend on the […]
“If everyone were holy and handsome, with ‘alter Christus’ shining in neon lighting from them, it would be easy to see Christ in everyone. If Mary had appeared in Bethlehem clothed, as St. John says, with the sun, a crown of twelve stars on her head, and the moon under her feet, then people would have fought to make room […]
In most countries, it would be difficult to imagine a 22 year old who has yet to complete a university education and having no relevant professional experience being appointed Deputy Minister of State. Hungary, it would appear, is the land of such possibilities, provided one is a demonstrably faithful to Fidesz, the ruling party. This week, we learned that Katalin […]
