Politics

Péter Márki-Zay on February 24, 2022 in front of the Russian embassy in Budapest.

Hungary’s united democratic opposition announces election slate and is boosted by polls

Hungarian voters, spanning from Hungary to across the ocean in Canada, will head to the voting booths on April 3rd, 2022. And after 12 years in power, democratically-minded Hungarians will seek to end Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s authoritarian, corrupt and singularly cynical rule. What makes this national election different than the last three in which Mr. Orbán’s Fidesz party claimed […]

by · February 25, 2022 · Politics
File photo: the Záhony border crossing between Hungary and Ukraine. Source: MTI.

Hungary prepared to accept Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russian invasion

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, traditionally an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has finally condemned Moscow’s ruthless invasion of Ukraine. The Hungarian leader also announced that the country is ready to accept refugees from Ukraine immediately. The first Ukrainian citizens to seek refuge in Hungary crossed the border at Beregsurány and Záhony on 24 February. The average wait times […]

by · February 24, 2022 · Politics
Viktor Orbán refuses to condemn Putin even if Hungarians in Ukraine come under assault

Viktor Orbán refuses to condemn Putin even if Hungarians in Ukraine come under assault

The leader of Hungary’s united democratic opposition, Péter Márki-Zay, pointed out Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s deafening silence on the invasion of its peaceful eastern neighbour by Vladimir Putin’s Russia. He added pointedly that Mr. Orbán would avoid condemning his ruthless Russian ally even if the Hungarian minority in western Ukraine were directly threatened by the current war. “In 1956, we […]

by · February 24, 2022 · Politics
Wass Albert

Stop Hungarian glorification of WWII-era fascists in the US – a letter to Congressman Deutch

Congressman Theodore Eliot Deutch is representing Florida’s 22nd Congressional District since 2010.  His district is the home of many Americans of Hungarian origin in the State of Florida.  I called on the Congressman to condemn recent efforts of the Hungarian Government to promote WWII-era fascists in the United States. *** Dear Congressman Deutch, In 2015 you wrote a letter to Prime […]

by · February 16, 2022 · Politics
From left Hungary’s Ambassador to Washington Szabolcs Takács, Balázs Orbán with his book, Daniel McCarthy, Helen Andrews and Sohrab Ahmari

Orbán brings his anti-West campaign to the United States

Hungary started an unprecedented campaign in the United States to bring Orbán’s xenophobic, homophobic, racist and anti-Semitic message to US audiences.  His government is isolated in the US due to Orbán’s pro-Putin and pro-China stand.  No active American politician (republican or democrat) would support him publicly. Budapest now relies on a small, “fringe” group of conservative individuals and organizations to deliver […]

by · October 31, 2021 · Politics
The failed 1956 Hungarian Revolution – the Soviets blamed the West just like Orbán does today

The failed 1956 Hungarian Revolution – the Soviets blamed the West just like Orbán does today

Sixty-five years ago Soviet troops crushed the Hungarian Revolution. The Soviet Union started a propaganda campaign blaming the West for the uprising and the bloodshed.  Howard Norton, a journalist with the Baltimore Sun reported from Moscow that the Soviets had spread their version why Russian troops were fighting in Hungary.  Not surprisingly, they put the blame unequivocally on the West […]

by · October 23, 2021 · Politics
Péter Márki-Zay to lead the united democratic opposition in bid to topple Orbán

Péter Márki-Zay to lead the united democratic opposition in bid to topple Orbán

In spring 2o22, for the first time ever, Hungary’s strongman ruler Viktor Orbán will face a united opposition running a single slate of candidates spanning Jobbik on the right to the Democratic Coalition on the liberal left. This rainbow coalition, more disciplined in maintaining the united front needed to finally topple the rule of Viktor Orbán than ever before, will […]

by · October 17, 2021 · Politics
Orbán first objects, then accepts global minimum tax proposal

Orbán first objects, then accepts global minimum tax proposal

One major goals of the Biden administration was to overhaul international tax rules and establish a 15 percent global minimum tax.  The US wanted to reverse a decades-long race to the bottom of corporate tax rates after many major corporations shifted headquarters and profits to low-tax jurisdictions, depriving countries of much needed tax money to build new infrastructure, support education […]

by · October 10, 2021 · Politics
Tucker Carlson listens intently to Mr. Orbán.

Hungary teaches Tucker Carlson a lesson

Anyone who watches Fox News entertainer Tucker Carlson’s shows recognizes that the popular right-wing television host is a frequent and vociferous critic of China. Mr. Carlson refers regularly to Covid-19 as the “China virus” or the “Wuhan virus,” mostly as a type of verbal nod to his viewers who are irritated with political correctness. Mr. Carlson cultivates a “tell it […]

by · August 11, 2021 · Politics
Pope Francis, President Biden and Viktor Orbán the “totalitarian thug”

Pope Francis, President Biden and Viktor Orbán the “totalitarian thug”

Tucker Carlson from Fox News was in Budapest and conducted an interview with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. I found part of their conversation intriguing. Here is the official transcript. CARLSON: When the President of the United States describes you as a totalitarian thug, it’s a very serious thing to say about somebody, I would note. I mean, that suggests that, […]

by · August 11, 2021 · Politics